Archive for the ‘Press and Media’ Category

Doricana Review in San Diego Troubadour (USA)

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

Written by Frank Kocher

Folk-rocker Colin Clyne is originally from Scotland and though he has relocated to Southern California, the roots of his music remain in the green highlands. His new CD is Doricana, a title that says a lot – the style of the music and the sound of the singer blend elements from both sides of the pond.

The 13 songs on the disc were recorded local producer/engineer Alan Sanderson, a veteran whose board talents help Clyne achieve the most from his material. The overall sound is primarily acoustic, with steady guitar support by James Hood throughout and judicious use of percussion, keys, and Dennis Caplinger’s banjo and fiddle touches. Clyne wrote all of the tunes, with help on one from Hood, and they are a mix of stories, observations, and love messages – sung to country/folk ballads in his strong Celtish accent.

“Pockets and Envelopes” has interesting lyrics, about how the “tramps on the streets well known as lords,” but there are stretches where it is difficult to decipher the words – printed lyrics would have helped. On “Traditional Song,” Clyne sings about his homeland, following strong acoustic guitar figures by Hood to chant the chorus.

The structure on these tunes is similar to many of the others on the disc; after he sings a couple of verses over subdued guitar licks, the simple, repeated chorus line comes, sometimes with a “na na na” or a “la la la” melody scat. Repeat, and after repeating the third chorus, end. One problem with songs with a similar beat, structure, and vocal sound is that it can become like a visit to the ice cream store, getting many different minor variations on the same flavor. Thanks to Clyne and the musicians, that flavor isn’t vanilla.

The single on this disc is “Into My Garden,” and it is a catchy treat. This tune is about how Clyne has opened up his life to a new love, with good imagery. The sound is fuller and more robust than other tracks on the disc, thanks to organ and full band, and the hammered-home chorus sticks with the listener. While Clyne generally avoids using any Doric dialect on the disc, he comes closest on “Crying at the Sky,” which has a Celtish folk vibe. “Dance with Her” is slower, a folk lament that delivers a simple, haunting melody, and amounts to a sleeper highlight. “Hey I Miss You Too” comes after some slower filler tracks with cello and keys, turning things around with banjo and cajon-pounding percussion, as a studio crowd claps along.

Doricana has its feet in two worlds. It is Americana roots music, pleasant folk with country underpinnings. Add Colin Clyne’s distinct taste of Scotland to the music and the combination is unusual and distinctive.

http://www.sandiegotroubadour.com/content/cdreviews/cdreviews.aspx#Colin_Clyne

Doricana Review on Leicester Bangs (UK)

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

Colin Clyne – Doricana (Starving Dog)
Doricana is the mix of the Scottish Doric dialect with Americana. Simple. Nothing to be scared about, and you wont need a degree in Celtic languages to understand the songs. Clyne’s a Scottish-born singer-songwriter based in the USA. He combines his origins and present habitat by adding a large helping of passionate, Caledonian soul to his rootsy, acoustic songs, and for the most part it works just fine. He describes himself as the love child of Mike Myers ‘Fat bastard’ and Neil Young – harsh. 7/10

http://www.leicesterbangs.co.uk/aug10-34.html

Doricana Review On Northern Sky (UK)

Friday, August 13th, 2010

The following review was taken from Northern Sky.

“Scottish-born singer-songwriter Colin Clyne returns with his second album, the follow up to his 2006 debut Songs from the Cold Store, intent on creating a new genre. If the album’s title attempts to describe a certain marriage between an ancient Scottish language and the more recent collective term for American roots music, then the songs presented here bridge the Atlantic suitably well. Colin Clyne’s prolific output has been narrowed down to thirteen songs, each produced and arranged with a crisp acoustic sound and clear vocal delivery; no need to consult the lyric sheet here.

Originally from the small coastal town of Stonehaven, just south of Aberdeen, Clyne has traded the bitter North Sea for the much more conducive North Pacific Ocean, setting up home in San Diego on the West Coast of California. The songs chosen for this album lend themselves to this particular area of America, each one injected with warmth and accessibility, yet losing none of the inherent Celtic heart. Melodic in structure, the songs in the main are possessed of a memorable hook, which I would imagine should make for radio-friendly consideration.

Heartbreak and homesickness are just two themes running through the core of Doricana with Good for Something, Dance With Her, Hey I Miss You Too and In My Garden as good examples. The Pain of the Mississippi Queen in particular tells of a yearning for home, away from the superficiality of Hollywood and a longing to return to the land where the ‘deep fried Mars Bar’ was born. A nice image right there.

With a supporting cast of fine musicians including James Hood on guitar and bass, Larry Grano on drums, Rick Nash on bass and Enrique Platas on percussion, together with a bunch of guest musicians helping out on accordion, fiddle, banjo, keyboards and a variety of other instruments, the overall sound maintains a consistency throughout the thirteen titles, each song a snapshot of archetypal ‘Doricana’.

Allan Wilkinson
Northern Sky”

Click here to view the original review on Allan’s website.