Any construct you may be tempted to see in the name of this disc, analogous to a political debate under way in these lands, is wide of the mark.
The album is what it says on the tin, even if Nick Hamilton's cover image of Birnam Post Office dressed up as a late-night music bar is indeed a Photo-shop construction.
The crucial detail not to miss in these 17 tracks is that every one is self-composed by the artists performing. At no point will you think: I'd rather be hearing this person retread Dust My Broom, Crossroads or Little Red Rooster. Because this collection of blues songs contains new gems, often less than contemporary sounding lyric-wise, and, in the case of Ruff Cut's Mr Friend Mr 44, only rather unfortunately so.
I had heard of few of the bands anthologised here, but the standard is universally high and the styles varied, with some superb juxtapositions like the acoustic Sleepy Eyed Nelson next to the garage pulse of The Yahs. Some great singing and a deal of very fine guitar-playing sits alongside bursts of colour on mouth and larger organ. Here is a Scots underground scene that many will be pleased to discover.
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