Capercaillie remains one of Scotland's most innovative and exciting bands to emerge from traditional music in the last 15 years. Formed in 1984, the nucleus of the band has always been the husband and wife team of Donald Shaw (on keyboards, accordion, piano, and synth) and the uncompromisingly powerful and evocative vocals of Karen Matheson. Fiddler Charlie McKerron joined the band in 1988 at the time of its third album, The Blood is Strong, and guitarist, bouzouki player, and vocalist Manus Lunny has been on board since the Sidewaulk (1989) album. Over the years the group has scored music for television (The Blood is Strong and Glenfinnan: Songs of the '45) and movies (Rob Roy) and experimented with rock, funk, new age, and even house rhythms, all the while remaining true to the spirit of Celtic music, with a strong commitment to songs sung in Scots Gaelic. The turn of the century finds the band more popular than ever, and a new deal with the American-based Valley Entertain ment label brings both its new album and a collection of previously unavailable CDs to a wider American audience. All this, coupled with some really interesting solo activity from the various band members, makes for quite an exciting time for Capercaillie fans.

[Reviewed: Capercaillie Nàdurra (2000), The Blood is Strong (1988), Capercaillie (1994), Dusk Till Dawn: The Best of Capercaillie (1998), The Capercaillie Collection 1990-1996 (1998, video); Karen Matheson The Dreaming Sea (1996); Michael McGoldrick Fused (2000); Big Sky Volume I: The Source (1999).]

This is an excerpt from issue #93.