Scottish musician Malcolm MacWatt mixes Americana with British folklore and sings about contemporary issues. “Folk music isn’t stuck in the past”The Church & The Crown, a song about money, greed and the misuse of power.
MacWatt plays almost all the instrumentation on the album with the exception of piano. As with his previous album – Settler – he makes creative use of guest musicians and singers. Angeline Morrison’s lead vocals on Empire In me being the most striking contribution.
Heather And Honey and b>Semi Scotsman are where his Highland roots are most evident.
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His voice is melodic and soothing so he sounds engaged but never angry. This is true even of Red River Woman which he reflects bitterly of the murder of a native girl murder.
The plight of indigenous American people is also the subject in Buffalo Thunder, a song which encourages listeners to view tales of cowboys and Indians on a more political level.
MacWatt’s compassion is never in doubt though the passion is more understated.
< Malcolm Macwatt’s website
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