Favourite Albums Of 2019: Norrie McCulloch - Compass

I got introduced to Scottish Singer/Songwriter Norrie McCullcoch through the excellent fortnightly radio show, The Quiet Revolution hosted by the music encyclopaedia that is Adam Wilson, which you can find tucked away on Harbourgh FM on Tuesday Nights, now between 9-11pm.
Click here to see my thought on The Quiet Revolution

 That was back in 2016 with his album These Mountain Blues. Now on his 4th LP, Norrie ploughs his own furrow in the business we know as Music. Hailing from Ayrshire, he continues to release his own albums, in his own time.

This, his latest release called Compass was funded as part of a Kickstarter crowd funding exercise for which I was proud to hand over my hard earned cash.

Norrie freely admits that he is often influenced by whatever he happens to be listening to at the time of writing and recording and for this album the influences are of the American Troubadours of the 60s & 70s including Tim Buckley, Fred Neil and Ted Lucas and even the Grateful Dead.

I'd add in some Simone Felice, early 70s Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, Poco and James Taylor too.

Road Signs

Norrie records with a fluid, organic feel to his music and has done for all four of his releases.
He may not be the first Scot to look across the Atlantic for inspiration but he does so with a certain elan and panache. He is not afraid to hide his influences but to his credit he remains firmly his own man and in no way tries to adopt a Transatlantic accent.

Compass is performed by the following musicians - Norrie on Vocals and Acoustic Guitars, Harmonica and Vocals - Dave McGowan on Bass & Guitar -  Stuart Kidd on Drums, Percussion and Vocals - Shane Connolly on Drums & Percussion - Iain Thomson on Guitar & Mandolin and Marco Rea on Vocals

In and out at 40 minutes it sounds like a good old fashioned 70s singer/songwriter album and feels so much better than some of the 70 minute monoliths out there that feel like so much filler than killer. Especially if you opt for the rather lovely vinyl release which sounds gorgeous.
Every track feels placed and intended.

The album opens with the rather lovely Dear Lady Blue which brings me visions of The Band plying their trade over there in the Big Pink - kind of rambling and focused, if you know what I mean.

Next up is Road Sign, a current favourite which it's uptempo shuffle and lovely 70s style harmonies and lovely mandolin playing.

There are many shades on this album - Hollow Love with it's Waltz feel is a song of unfulfilled desire and yearning.

Compass , the title track is the 'epic' of the album with it's Peter Green Fleetwood Mac style guitar playing and it's gentle Congo accompanied smooth swing and cymbal brushes and harmonies, it sound like a mixture of old and new Mac - an interesting concept.

The closer, With You In My Life is another instant beauty - 12 String acoustic guitar, layered harmonies and softness, it seduces you into it's magic and has you instantly hitting the repeat. Perhaps something you wouldn't do if it was 70 minutes long.

Like a lot of excellent albums, it takes a long time to give up it's charms. You have to live with it for a while and let it slowly reveal it's beauty. I've always been a sucker for a 12 String acoustic and it's great to hear it in abundance in this album.

So let Norrie into your life if you like an honest to goodness singer songwriter who writes rather lovely songs and records and releases them in his own distinct manner.

You can get the album in cd or a rather lovely vinyl at his website - just click below.

The Official Norrie McCulloch Website

Twitter - @NorrieMcCulloch