This collection of cuts by the Scottish musician celebrates his genius and collaborative spirit
WORLD CHOICE
Kris Drever is a guitarist with few peers
The Best of Kris Drever
Kris Drever, Lau, Éamonn Coyne et al Reveal Records 193CDX (2 discs)
This great Scot needs little introduction, having most recently graced this page when his fourth solo album, Where the World Is Thin featured in the November 2021 issue. A typically prolific genius, Drever is also a keen collaborator, although surprisingly little of his work with the brilliant trio Lau (see July 2019 issue) is included on this ‘best of’ collection. It does not include more than one item from his sparkling artistic partnership with the Irish banjo player Éamonn Coyne, whose second album featured in the July 2013 issue, nor any of his pieces with the Lost Words Spell Songs Project.
What you do get in this generous two-disc compilation is a handful of previously unreleased songs, including new single, ‘Catterline’, Drever’s awed tribute to the painter Joan Eardley, referencing the fishing village near Stonehaven that she has immortalised in her work.
A suitably stellar cast of colleagues from an eclectic range of fields contribute guest performances, and as a near-peerless guitarist, Drever’s feel for rhythm is clear on the likes of ‘Scapa Flow 1919’ just as his ability to inhabit/take ownership of others’ songs shines on his versions of ‘Poor Man’s Son’ and ‘Harvest Gypsies’.
★★★★★
December round-up
Regular readers of this round-up will be familiar with Welsh harpist
Catrin Finch. While best known for her superb collaborative albums with Senegalese kora player/singer Seckou Keita, the third of which featured in my November 2022 selection, Finch has recently found a delightful new partnership with Irish fiddler/violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain which is showcased to exhilarating effect on their newly released album Double You – perhaps thus titled because all the track titles begin with the letter W. Perhaps most emblematic of these is ‘Wish’, for the way in which it marries an Irish and a Welsh traditional song to spellbinding effect. Both artists are also deeply grounded in classical music, as is evident throughout. (Bendidedig BENDI11) ★★★★★ Another fine, but extremely unlikely, recent release pairs two virtuoso musicians who are both widely acclaimed maestros of their chosen instruments. Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté and Persian spike fiddle (or kamancheh
