Amazing Things - Runrig

Proterra - Runrig

When it was announced that Donnie Munroe was leaving Runrig to pursue a career in politics the future of the band seemed to be in jeopardy. Then during the audition process they came across a guy from Nova Scotia, Canada who seemed to have the perfect sound for what they were looking for. And so Bruce Guthro took over the task as lead singer and helped hold the band together to see it through to their 30th year anniversary. Before reaching this monumental milestone however they released this album in 2003 with the help of Paul Mounsey, who gave the band what seemed like a more focussed direction. If you’re not familiar with Runrig they are a Scottish band whose ...

Proterra - Runrig

An album to satisfy Runrig fans, or at least most of them. The Runrig sound is still there but the influence of Paul Mounsey (who gets a front cover credit) takes them to a new level with an even bigger sound. Classic tracks from the Recovery album of 1981, "The Old Boys" and "An Toll Dubh", have been reworked with the latter bringing a tingle to the spine of this old boy! Memories of the concerts in the Skye Gathering Hall, Skeabost Hall, Uig Hall ... I could go on and on... Changes in the band's lineup have been the source of much debate elsewhere but it's great to hear the track "Angel from the Ashes" by Blair Douglas (a great ...

Mara - Runrig

"Alba", "Rocket To The Moon". or "City of Lights" for example. The fourth track; "Things That Are" is the one that gets closest to the traditional Runrig sound that marked all their previous records. Die hard fans of the band will be alienated by the highly experimental "Nothing But The Sun", even more so by the bluesy Hammond organ on "The Wedding". It really starts to get a bit of a hotch potch of musical styles by the end. In short, Mara is really a "love it or hate it" album, and while it is great chill-out music at the end of the evening - many people will be swapping it out of their CD ...