This is a translation of the review by Werner Herpell on Sounds & Books on 25th September 2024. Link to original here.
Top musicians lead "Songwriter in spe" in beautiful surroundings to great own songs: The compilation album "Secret Coast Songwriters" documents 20 feelings of success.
By Werner Herpell
Presumably there are millions of people who carry the songwriter gene in themselves and yet never write a song in their lives. Because they do not suspect anything of their gift, or do not dare, or receive no support, or find no advocates and participants. It's a shame actually, because every good song that is felt, written or even sung potentially makes the world a better place. The resort "The Hollies" on the Scottish West Coast (specifically: on the so-called Secret Coast of Argyll near Glasgow) can therefore be imagined as a clearly better place.
Awakening experience without performance pressure
There, in recent years, various "songwriters and songwriters in spe" overcame all fears, doubts and blockages through weekend master classes in order to write their very own song or even several of their own songs with expert help and to record it professionally. This awakening experience without external pressure to perform is now available in the form of a double CD and a double vinyl as a 20-track album. And it is wonderful to hear this often particularly deeply felt, even as if liberated sounding music now.
No master classes without a master craftsman - the experienced, inspiring singer-songwriters and instrumentalists of Argyll can hardly be praised enough. Mentors of the "Secret Coast Songwriters" project were: James Grant, one of the best Scottish pop composers of the past 40 years with magnificent, clever, highly melodious songs between folk, rock, blues and soul, known and successful with the Glasgow bands Friends Again, Love & Money and for a long time also solo; Robert Hodgens alias Bobby Bluebell, also Scottish, since the early 80s with The Bluebells ("Young At Heart") and later with The Poems one of the most important British guitarists and songwriters; as well as Grahame Skinner, with The Jazzateers, Hipsway and Cowboy Mouth for four decades also guarantor for ambitious pop from Scotland.
Outstanding Masters
It is almost superfluous to mention that these three musicians have not exceeded their creative climax themselves, but are constantly active in their own projects. James Grant sings and plays in a celebrity trio together with Bernard Butler (formerly Suede) and Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), whose debut is announced for 2025; Robert Hodgens has revived the Bluebells with great success in 2023 (the comeback album "In The 21st Century" is excellent), and Grahame Skinner together with Hodgens forms the new Scottish pop duo The Golden Tree.
So none of the three renowned champions was exhausted or even broke when hopeful resort guests went into a retreat with them for the first time in 2022 in the pleasant coastal ambiance of Argyll. What came up during these weekend sessions is a sounding proof that good songs first have to come out to be polished to a high gloss by good musicians in the second step. None of the 20 songs of the double album sounds laymanlike or underproduced, each track - in addition to a lot of Scottish soul - can be heard the heart and soul poured out.
From folk to soul to postcard pop
"Dust From Your Shoes" by Gerry McBride with its folk-soul melody including epic guitar solo is a perfect opener for "Secret Coast Songwriters", James Grant's familiar, warm baritone voice in the background turns an already very strong song into a deeply touching song. Del Amitri leave greetings here. "I Will Love You" by Steven McDonald is then a cheerful piece of folk pop, which could also come from the mentioned bluebells. With the tender "Dreaming Blue Girl" by Sandrine Certenais, sung in a duet with Grant, the enchanting Glasgow Postcard sound of the early 80s (Orange Juice, Aztec Camera, The Go-Betweens) sounds through. The ballad "Shirt Tails" by Peter Hall lets images of a foggy Scottish lake open before the eye of the listener, with "Not A Love Song" by Dignity Row, as once did with Love & Money or Hipsway, soul and funk flow casually.
The trio Only When I Glow delivers a hit for a more beautiful chart world with the wonderfully catchy "When I Go", right after Linda Scott puts herself into the tradition of great British folk ladies with the piano-dominated "Watching Shadows". Dougie Smith, on the other hand, competently mixes folk, soul and gospel in "Ready To Fall", Bobby Motherwell alias Sulidae adds a nice pinch of blues feeling via harmonica to the folk in "Save You All My Blues". Ross MacDonald ("False Dawn") and Stuart Gillies ("Hometown") later recall the massive "Big Music" of the legendary Scottish rockers The Waterboys.
Secret Coast Songwriters – a positive lesson
It would lead too far to present all 17 artists or bands (three are represented with two songs each on the compilation) and all contributions here by name. Every listener may find his or her favourite, the variety is big enough. The fact that this double album is now available in all its ambition and opulence is also due to the great indie label Last Night From Glasgow (LNFG), which has been dedicated to rediscovering and promoting local musicians for several years.
“Great people, great melodies – and such a wonderful place. I'm totally thrilled with how it went," says the outstanding accompanying musician and album producer James Grant in retrospect. "It was fantastic, you made my wishes come true," is how Sandrine Certenais, discovered in Argyll as a songwriter talent, summarises her exuberant feelings. Conclusion: A lesson of successful music education, at least.
The compilation album "Secret Coast Songwriters Vol. 1 & 2" of the project of the same name will be released on 27.09.2024 on the label Last Night From Glasgow (LNFG). (Contribution picture: Grahame Skinner and James Grant by Werner Herpell)