Blown Away - Stuart Cassells

...of a new CD and blown away is that CD. The Album contains 11 tracks in all with a hidden track at the end. The cd contains a mixture of more traditional ballads to energetic tunes that some of his mates join him in.

1. Big Al's? - It is not Big, but it is very clever.This track features the tune from the famous piper Fred Morrison, Alasdair's Reel. The tune is wonderfully arranged by Stuart and is a great track to start the cd off.
...Jig (Composed by Lorne McDougall), The Isle of Jura( Composed by Don Bradford). The isle of Jura is Famous for its Paps - and so is Kirsteen! Kirsteens jig is a wonderful tune that creates a nice build up into Don Bradford's great tune.

3.The Snuffmaids Welcome to Glasgow - The Snuffwife (Trad), The Kitchenmaid (Trad), Nelson Mandela's Welcome to Glasgow (Blair Douglas). Here stuart plays a few traditional reels followed by one of ... more

I met Stuart when we were both playing at a gig in Londonderry, N.Ireland. He was over with his group the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. The promotions team that had invited us over was trying to get us both drunk at a reception afterwards. Anyway he mentioned that he was releasing a new cd, and sure enough a few weeks later is was released into some of the high street music shops so i just had to buy it.

So the cd went into the cd player and straightaway i knew it was a good buy as Stuarts playing was exciting, invigorating and inspiring. The Cd starts with alot of emotion and energy. Phil Colins states on the cd sleeve that, '"the pipes are like the open string Rickenbacker of Pete Townshend. Not much between them."

Here's a little about Stuart;
Stuart Cassells is one of Scotland's leading young bagpipers and has gained the title in his time as BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2005, Stuart has a CV that includes winning most of the top junior solo competitions, as well as being heard on the soundtrack of the latest Harry Potter film and recording with the rock band The Darkness.

In 2005 Stuart also became the first graduate with the new BA Scottish Music - Piping degree from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Taught originally in Wallacestone Pipe Band and then by Pipe Major George Lumsden and Donald MacPherson, Stuart made rapid progress and by the age of thirteen was playing in grade one pipe bands, firstly with Torphichen and Bathgate and then with the famous MacNaughton's Vale of Atholl Pipe Band. He then went on to be a successful Pipe Major of The Royal Burgh of Stirling Pipe Band at the tender age of eighteen. He is now a member of the 78th Fraser Highlanders based in Toronto, Canada.

Now abit about the Cd;

After winning the BBC award one of the prizes was a release of a new CD and blown away is that CD. The Album contains 11 tracks in all with a hidden track at the end. The cd contains a mixture of more traditional ballads to energetic tunes that some of his mates join him in.

1. Big Al's? - It is not Big, but it is very clever.This track features the tune from the famous piper Fred Morrison, Alasdair's Reel. The tune is wonderfully arranged by Stuart and is a great track to start the cd off.

2. The Paps of Jura - Kirsteens Jig (Composed by Lorne McDougall), The Isle of Jura( Composed by Don Bradford). The isle of Jura is Famous for its Paps - and so is Kirsteen! Kirsteens jig is a wonderful tune that creates a nice build up into Don Bradford's great tune.

3.The Snuffmaids Welcome to Glasgow - The Snuffwife (Trad), The Kitchenmaid (Trad), Nelson Mandela's Welcome to Glasgow (Blair Douglas). Here stuart plays a few traditional reels followed by one of Blairs most famous tunes, probably because of its name. Is a Snuffwife a Snuffmaid before she gets married??

4.Ginnys Tune - Composed by Stuart himself. Stuart wrote this tune for his girlfriend Gillian who acquired the name Ginny from her young neice. Another great inspiring tune from stuart, with great accompliment from Ross Kennedy.

5.The Salmon and the Clyde - The salmon and the clyde ( Composed by Stuart), Rory McLeod (Donald McLeod). Stuart was having great luck ans success in 2005 when he won his BBC award and he was that lucky that people told him that if he fell into the river clyde he would come out with a salmon in his mouth.

6.Moran and the Bodhran - The Rutting(Simon Moran), Atholl Cummers (Trad), The prince of Wales (Trad), Bodhran Solo (Martin o'Neill), Angus McGonnagle, the Gargling Arygll Gargoyle(Lauren McDougall). The first tune was written by stuarts flatmate about the mating season of the deer. Think you can play the bodhran? Well listen to this outstanding solo spot by Martin O'Neill. Try saying the name of the last tune after a few drinks!

7.The Terror Time - (Ewan MacColl). This song was composed about the travelling people of scotland, this song is sung on this track by that great traveller of people, Ross Kennedy. Nice backing on the smallpipes by Stuart on this track.

8.The Hills of Argyll feat The Red Hot Chilli Pipers - This song and the tune was composed by George McIntyre from Campbeltown, whilst in a prisoner of war camp in Germany during the Second World War. This is one of my favorite tracks. Is starts of quietly and has a great build up with electric guitar and drums towards the end. The lyrics to the chorus are;
'From the hills of Argyll,
Im with you all the while,
Dreaming and screaming,
And when i pray i close my eyes and say
When will I see Scotland again?'

9.This is how the Ladies Dance - Loic Denis' welcome to South Uist (Fred Morrison), This is how the Ladies dance (Trad). The dirst tune was taught to stuart by Fred morrison in Glagow Airport when they were waiting on their luggage. The second tune had a nice modern twist to it.

10.Sexy Lexy - Lexie McAskill (John McAskill), Thomsons Dirk (Trad). Stuart plays these two traditional tunes is straight reel time, which he was inspired by a latino-oasis tribute band.

11.Just for Gordon - Miss Campbell of Sheerness (Trad), Grey Daylight(Lorne MacDougall), Tune for new found harmonium (Simon Jeffes), The High Drive (Gordon Duncan). Everyone was saddened at the passing of gordon duncan, absoulte genius piper and composer and probably one of stuarts biggest influences. Stuart really does gordon proud in the last tune played on this track.

At around 9 mins into track 11 you can find the hidden trackin which stuart thanks people for buying this cd, and you can hear his winning performance that won him the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2005. An absolutly fantastic performance which everyone must hear!

Musicans
Stuart Cassells - Highland Bagpipes
Ross Kennedy - Guitar, Bouzouki, Vocals
Douglas Millar - Piano
Craig Strain - Bass Guitar
Paul Jennings - Drums
Martin O'Neill -Bodhran
Simon Moran - Fiddle
Lorne MacDougall - Low Whistle

Produced by Ross Kennedy

Sleeve and covers - The cd cover in my opinion is pretty well designed in that it lets people know what they are buying when they see a cd with a piper in the front but it has that modern twist. The inlay sleeve has quite a few details on the tunes, composers etc.

Overall I Think that this is a great cd by a great performer and musician and it gives piping a good name and not just a bunch of squealing cats!! 

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