Sons of Somerled

by Steven McDonaldNew Zealander McDonald, best known for sweeping electronic works long on spacy anthems and short on engaging ideas, here turns in a rousing, splendid Scottish set that manages to make even the warhorses ("Loch Lomond," "Scotland the Brave") sound fairly exciting. Rife with bagpipes, big arrangements and stirring vocal turns, the album is likely to cause much swelling of chest in those with Scottish ancestry and much delight in those who simply like Celtic, Irish and Scottish music. The CD has an Enhanced CD section with a video, an interview, album credits, lyrics and photographs.