Renowned Scottish folk multi-instrumentalist and broadcaster releases a new solo album demonstrating just why she’s held in such high regard.
In Scottish folk circles Anna Massie already enjoys a stellar reputation as guitarist/fiddle-player in Blazin’ Fiddles, as a fiddle-player with RANT, and as producer and presenter of BBC Radio Scotland’s flagship trad-music programme Travelling Folk, winner of Trad Music in the Media at the 2023 Scots Trad Music Awards. Massie’s personal accolades as a folk musician also include three nominations for Best Instrumentalist, as well as Producer of the Year in 2022. It is therefore no surprise to discover that her latest solo album glistens throughout with her talented playing.
The new record, ‘Two Down’, is a culmination of Massie’s two decades of musical exploration, and features the Glasgow-based musician on vocals, guitar, fiddle and mandolin. An entirely solo project, the recording process saw her layer all the various instrumental parts on a selection of long-standing favourite tunes alongside some self-composed instrumentals and some witty, charming songs that also serve to highlight her talent as a vocalist. The album was recorded at Gran’s House Studio in South Lanarkshire by her long-time collaborator and Blazin’ Fiddles bandmate Angus Lyon.
Massie is first and foremost a superb guitarist and her scintillating playing lights up every track, but especially on the instrumentals ‘100 Days’ and ‘Dinner Medals’ (which also demonstrates that she’s every bit as talented playing the fiddle.) But really, every track features her virtuoso playing. It’s not much of a surprise, but on ‘The Outdoor Type’ and ‘Thanks for Writing’ the quality of her singing and songwriting also matches up to the high bar set by her playing. The album ends with her covering ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’, the Tommy James and The Shondells hit made famous by Tiffany and it’s given a delightful – and possibly, quite literally – a tongue-in-cheek, modern-folk makeover by Massie.
A less obvious treat is Massie’s warm and witty notes on each tune that can be found on her Bandcamp page. It’s well worthwhile clicking the info tab for each track and reading the backstory and inspiration behind the songs and the recordings.
Not even a quarter way into the year and Massie has laid down a strong contender for Album of the Year in the folk world, both in her native Scotland and, almost certainly, further afield too. Get yourself along to her Bandcamp page and enjoy some excellent folk music.
