Interesting. Metagama Ensemble are positively obvious and effusive in their gratitude to the Creative Scotland cuddle bunnies for putting their hands in the public pocket to fund this album and, apparently, a successful stage show. So, will there be something of present day cultural significance to be found in “Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey”?
It is indeed an interesting story that is told in these 76 minutes with the departure of mostly young men from the islands of Scotland for the fertile pastures of Canada being told in a predictably sentimental fashion with narration and earnest musicianship taking the listener along on this journey of economic migration promoted by the, then as now, ever benevolent Westminster plutocracy. As this is a story told politely and quite eloquently, no judgement is offered on the motivations of those who would sell their poor to another country and the songs, performed alternately in English and Gaelic, duly tell a tale of cultural dilution through relocation and its consequent human cost with an almost academic detachment.
This album will appeal to the patriots who diligently attend all festivals where traditional Scottish music is revived and polished for their delectation but, in the troubled times of today, it would be a brave man indeed who would dare to ponder just why history keeps repeating itself. The clocks have stopped again.
Available from Bandcamp and the usual digital places.