The Paul McKenna Band

This is the third release on the Greentrax Label by the band and it shows a constant maturing of the performances with McKenna recently chosen as Scots Singer of the Year. The collection of songs on offer is eclectic with self–penned items expertly interspersed with rearranged traditional material. The opening Lonely Man written by McKenna is a poignant and well–crafted song. They follow this with a more upbeat Mickey Dam, a traditional offering. While Scottish based they draw their material from the international pot and their rendition of Indiana is evocative of that locale. Instrumental expertise comes to the fore on Flying Through Flanders/Mrs Thom.
One of the more beautiful offerings on this album is Mother Nature once more from the pen of Paul McKenna.They shoot across the wide Atlantic again for Cold Missouri Waters. This is a very strong song with a wonderful storyline that will intrigue you to the end. The album ends with a live rendition of No Ash Will Burn.
On a short stretch of only ten tracks this band offers a showcase of their wide ranging ability and a wonderful choice of songs.
Nicky Rossiter - Irish Music Magazine

This is the third release on the Greentrax Label by the band and it shows a constant maturing of the performances with McKenna recently chosen as Scots Singer of the Year. The collection of songs on offer is eclectic with self–penned items expertly interspersed with rearranged traditional material. The opening Lonely Man written by McKenna is a poignant and well–crafted song. They follow this with a more upbeat Mickey Dam, a traditional offering. While Scottish based they draw their material from the international pot and their rendition of Indiana is evocative of that locale. Instrumental expertise comes to the fore on Flying Through Flanders/Mrs Thom.
One of the more beautiful offerings on this album is Mother Nature once more from the pen of Paul McKenna.They shoot across the wide Atlantic again for Cold Missouri Waters. This is a very strong song with a wonderful storyline that will intrigue you to the end. The album ends with a live rendition of No Ash Will Burn.
On a short stretch of only ten tracks this band offers a showcase of their wide ranging ability and a wonderful choice of songs.
Nicky Rossiter - Irish Music Magazine

Elements is the third album in six years from The Paul McKenna Band – that’s a level of consistency admired by many and achieved by those with their shoulders to the collective wheels. The Paul McKenna Band story has been moving steadily on since their formation in the early 2000s, reaching mainstream adulation at the MG Alba Scots Trad Awards in 2009 on the release of their first album Between Two Worlds – Paul being awarded Best Up and Coming Artist. It’s been steadily uphill since then with a second album, Stem The Tide, in 2011, and now Elements.
Musically this is an occasion where the arrangements suit the song, framed around the singer. From that you can glean that the band works as a unit with their musical expertise supporting the distinctive voice of Paul McKenna. The song bag is neatly divided between original songs, Irish and Scots traditional material and more contemporary offerings.
The Irish emigrant song The Mickey Dam offers a good example of the support network between band and singer - each works in tandem and creates a piece that works beyond the realm of mere song and accompaniment. Paul’s vocals recall a young Dick Gaughan here and the spare opener Lonely Man offers another good example of restrained backing supporting a confident lead vocal. Elsewhere, Nic Jones’ Ruins By The Shore, Andy

Mitchell’s Indiana and the Irish ballad, Michael Hayes suit the underlying theme of emigration and emerge as three well entrusted story songs.
Musically the band can play tune sets too, like on Flying Through Flanders, while sterling instrumental flourishes dot through the song arrangements. Elements shows how well The Paul McKenna Band has achieved the balance between song service, instrumental flair and vocal expertise. It offers a template for merging balance and control in approach and arrangement and producing a high quality result.

John O'Regan - The Living Tradition

Elements is the third album in six years from The Paul McKenna Band – that’s a level of consistency admired by many and achieved by those with their shoulders to the collective wheels. The Paul McKenna Band story has been moving steadily on since their formation in the early 2000s, reaching mainstream adulation at the MG Alba Scots Trad Awards in 2009 on the release of their first album Between Two Worlds – Paul being awarded Best Up and Coming Artist. It’s been steadily uphill since then with a second album, Stem The Tide, in 2011, and now Elements.
Musically this is an occasion where the arrangements suit the song, framed around the singer. From that you can glean that the band works as a unit with their musical expertise supporting the distinctive voice of Paul McKenna. The song bag is neatly divided between original songs, Irish and Scots traditional material and more contemporary offerings.
The Irish emigrant song The Mickey Dam offers a good example of the support network between band and singer - each works in tandem and creates a piece that works beyond the realm of mere song and accompaniment. Paul’s vocals recall a young Dick Gaughan here and the spare opener Lonely Man offers another good example of restrained backing supporting a confident lead vocal. Elsewhere, Nic Jones’ Ruins By The Shore, Andy

Mitchell’s Indiana and the Irish ballad, Michael Hayes suit the underlying theme of emigration and emerge as three well entrusted story songs.
Musically the band can play tune sets too, like on Flying Through Flanders, while sterling instrumental flourishes dot through the song arrangements. Elements shows how well The Paul McKenna Band has achieved the balance between song service, instrumental flair and vocal expertise. It offers a template for merging balance and control in approach and arrangement and producing a high quality result.

John O'Regan - The Living Tradition

The third album of the brilliant Paul McKenna Band may well be the best, following two great and widely celebrated previous albums. "Elements" is again clearly focussed on songs - a mix of traditional and contemporary ones - all of which telling stories that go deep. Paul's fine Scots singing comes with strong yet simple instrumentation (guitar, bouzouki, Flutes/whistle and bodhran/percussion). The one instrumental set on the album lets the skills of the musicians fully shine, yet it is also in the songs that combination of a good singer and highly talented musicians that makes this band stand out.
As with previous albums, the highlight of "Elements" is a self-penned song by Paul - "Lonely Man" is a beautifully crafted song with highly relevant lyrics about a lonely old man looking back on his life. This young man has incredible songwriting skills, as well as a golden hand when it comes to choosing songs for the band repertoire.
This album confirms the Paul McKenna Band as most impressive band to come out of Scotland in the last decade. - FolkWorld

The third album of the brilliant Paul McKenna Band may well be the best, following two great and widely celebrated previous albums. "Elements" is again clearly focussed on songs - a mix of traditional and contemporary ones - all of which telling stories that go deep. Paul's fine Scots singing comes with strong yet simple instrumentation (guitar, bouzouki, Flutes/whistle and bodhran/percussion). The one instrumental set on the album lets the skills of the musicians fully shine, yet it is also in the songs that combination of a good singer and highly talented musicians that makes this band stand out.
As with previous albums, the highlight of "Elements" is a self-penned song by Paul - "Lonely Man" is a beautifully crafted song with highly relevant lyrics about a lonely old man looking back on his life. This young man has incredible songwriting skills, as well as a golden hand when it comes to choosing songs for the band repertoire.
This album confirms the Paul McKenna Band as most impressive band to come out of Scotland in the last decade. - FolkWorld

I kind of think of The Paul McKenna Band as a Scottish version of Solas. Maybe it’s just me, but their tight-as-roofing-nails arrangements, adventurous choice of songs that will stick with you, and hell-for-leather instrumental tune playing really reminds me of the best parts of Solas. In any case, with their new album, Elements, The Paul McKenna Band can clearly stand on their own. Paul’s voice is powerful and beautiful, but also filled with a kind of charisma that makes you sit up and take listen. And like previous albums from this group, the song choices are inspired. Album opener, “Lonely Man,” was actually written by McKenna and it’s a catchy number about social graces. “Mickey Dam” is a pure classic Scottish song of piss-and-vinegar, and shows that though McKenna has a hand for subtle songs of social protest, he can also kick in a burning Scots anthem as well. Honestly, there’s nothing not to like with this album. Fiery tunes, thick Scottish brogues, and master musicianship from every level. Buy this, would ya? - TradConnect

I kind of think of The Paul McKenna Band as a Scottish version of Solas. Maybe it’s just me, but their tight-as-roofing-nails arrangements, adventurous choice of songs that will stick with you, and hell-for-leather instrumental tune playing really reminds me of the best parts of Solas. In any case, with their new album, Elements, The Paul McKenna Band can clearly stand on their own. Paul’s voice is powerful and beautiful, but also filled with a kind of charisma that makes you sit up and take listen. And like previous albums from this group, the song choices are inspired. Album opener, “Lonely Man,” was actually written by McKenna and it’s a catchy number about social graces. “Mickey Dam” is a pure classic Scottish song of piss-and-vinegar, and shows that though McKenna has a hand for subtle songs of social protest, he can also kick in a burning Scots anthem as well. Honestly, there’s nothing not to like with this album. Fiery tunes, thick Scottish brogues, and master musicianship from every level. Buy this, would ya? - TradConnect

5 AUGUST 2013
by NEIL MCFADYEN
in MUSIC REVIEWS
The Paul McKenna band have enjoyed some well-deserved plaudits since forming in 2006. Not least, the ‘Best Up And Coming Artist’ award at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards in 2009. Then in 2012 Paul McKenna won ‘Scots Singer Of The Year’ and Mike Vass was hailed ‘Composer Of The Year’. The band’s recordings and live shows have steadily built them a stalwart, ever-expanding following and their third album, Elements, builds on the promise of Between Two Worlds (2009) and Stem The Tide (2011).

Elements opens with a typically strong song from Paul’s own repertoire, Lonely Man. For new listeners this will be an impressive introduction to the band. Paul’s clearly a story teller, first and foremost; with his arresting yet plaintive vocals. Stirring support from banjo (Mike Vass) and flute (Séan Gray) show the strength of the band as a unit. Other self-penned songs include Mother Nature, where Séan’s flute heralds a gentler pace in a song dealing with human frailty in the face of natural disasters. Take Your Time is graced by the unmistakeable pipes of Jarlath Henderson in a stirring conversational duet with Mike Vass’s fiddle.

Of the album’s traditional offerings, Mickey Dam reminds us that tales of Irish immigrant labour in Scotland can always be relied on for a rousing chorus – this fine example is no exception. Paul’s guitar and vocals drive the story of wronged Tipperary farmer Michael Hays, as the tension increases Mike Vass’s fiddle adds to the drama.

The band are never shy about collecting songs from more contemporary sources either. The hugely popular and poignant Nic Jones song Ruins By The Shore is a history of humanity in five acts. The band deliver this classic with more than a hint of sadness and harmonies that will raise goose bumps. In an album full of powerful songs it can be difficult to find one that stands out, but James Keelaghan’s Cold Missouri Waters does just that. The combination of Keelaghn’s poignant deathbed story and McKenna’s low-key arrangement is heart-stopping.

The album draws to a close with a live recording. Walt Aldridge’s No Ash Will Burn gives the home listener a taste of just how good The Paul McKenna Band are in performance. They’re touring in the UK, the US and Europe right now – get out and see them.

The Paul McKenna band are clearly growing, improving and honing their considerable collective talents. There’s plenty to enjoy in this album – intricate arrangements of fine songs, strong production, engaging vocal performances; and the recent addition of the hugely talented Mike Vass on banjo & fiddle has added further depth to the sound. The now familiar sparkle of The Paul McKenna Band never seems to diminish, and continues to catch the attention of a widening audience. - Folk Radio UK

Ian Green, supremo of Greentrax, keeps getting deserved recognition from the industry for all his contributions to traditional music. One of his many talents is to know a damn fine band when he hears one, and then give them a recording contract. Which is just what he’s done again with these guys, who are the eponymous Paul McKenna, vocals, guitar; David McNee, Bouzoukis; Ruairidh Macmillan, fiddle; Seán Gray, flute, whistles; and Ewan Baird, bodhran.

Paul has a distinctive, clear voice and he tackles with aplomb a mixture of his own compositions and traditional numbers, some of which are sung to different airs, such as Red Mary to the tune of Willie Taylor, and Carnlough Bay to one of Paul’s melodies.

The instrumental arrangements and playing are outstanding throughout. The guitar and bouzoukis provide a rhythmic drive, the fiddle, flute and whistles intertwine beautifully and the bodhran is shown to be an instrument capable of subtlety and innovation.

They are a band whose live stage act is both engaging and memorable, and this release, adroitly recorded by the redoubtable Kris Koren and John Weatherby, captures that spark and vigour. In addition, this is one of those CDs which benefits from repeated listening, as there are layers of subtleties in there which just keep adding to the enjoyment.

Gordon Potter - The Living Tradition

After more than 15 years of reviewing folk CDs, there may be moments where I get somewhat weary of reviewing – until a CD comes along which is such a discovery making it all worthwhile. The Paul McKenna Band is one of such discoveries. Its debut album suggests that this is the most impressive new band I have heard for quite a while!

This young Scottish band is centred around Paul McKenna, exquisite singer/songwriter with a charismatic voice. However, the band around him is what makes the CD special indeed. The music sparkles and swings, is full of life and the CD captures an energetic “live” feeling of the band.
Instrumentally, the band combines the skills of Young Scottish Musician of the Year fiddler Ruairidh Macmillan, groovy bodhran playing from Ewan Baird, atmospheric flute from Sean Gray and David McNee on Bouzouki. The band sound is perfect and at times breathtaking – equally in lively instrumental sets and beautiful slow ballads.
The songs on the CD are an appealing combination of excellent Paul McKenna songs and new interpretations of old favourites. Paul’s three songs on the album are well crafted, with great lyrics and catchy melodies, stylistically acoustic folk/trad with an appealing modern pop twist to it. The band’s interpretation of trad favourites are similarly impressive, breathing new life into old classics; they include new versions of “The Lea Rig”, “P stands for Paddy”, “The Jolly Beggar” and Ewan McColl’s “Ballad of Accounting”.
This is the very first 2009 CD I have received – still I am sure that this will be an extremely strong contender to become my “Best CD of 2009?. Absolutely wonderful stuff – I am looking forward to more albums of this superb band!

Michael Moll - folkworld.de

Ian Green, supremo of Greentrax, keeps getting deserved recognition from the industry for all his contributions to traditional music. One of his many talents is to know a damn fine band when he hears one, and then give them a recording contract. Which is just what he’s done again with these guys, who are the eponymous Paul McKenna, vocals, guitar; David McNee, Bouzoukis; Ruairidh Macmillan, fiddle; Seán Gray, flute, whistles; and Ewan Baird, bodhran.

Paul has a distinctive, clear voice and he tackles with aplomb a mixture of his own compositions and traditional numbers, some of which are sung to different airs, such as Red Mary to the tune of Willie Taylor, and Carnlough Bay to one of Paul’s melodies.

The instrumental arrangements and playing are outstanding throughout. The guitar and bouzoukis provide a rhythmic drive, the fiddle, flute and whistles intertwine beautifully and the bodhran is shown to be an instrument capable of subtlety and innovation.

They are a band whose live stage act is both engaging and memorable, and this release, adroitly recorded by the redoubtable Kris Koren and John Weatherby, captures that spark and vigour. In addition, this is one of those CDs which benefits from repeated listening, as there are layers of subtleties in there which just keep adding to the enjoyment.

Gordon Potter - The Living Tradition

I often get the complaint “there’s nothing new coming out of Scotland.” Well that’s just wrong, as any fan of the Greentrax Music label will tell you, and the next two CDs I want to tell you about will prove my point. Between Two Worlds by The Paul McKenna Band, is one of the most innovative sounds, contemporary and traditional in the same breath—the future of Scottish music? I hope so. Led by Paul McKenna on guitar and vocals, the band features David McNee on bouzouki, Ruairidh Macmillan on fiddle, Sean Gray on flute & whistle, and Ewan Baird on bodhran. Paul McKenna also wrote several of the songs and some of them will be classics, the title song for one. I spent the better part of a day in the store just playing and replaying this CD, making all my customers listen to it. They liked it.

Jack Baker - irishamericannews.com

I often get the complaint “there’s nothing new coming out of Scotland.” Well that’s just wrong, as any fan of the Greentrax Music label will tell you, and the next two CDs I want to tell you about will prove my point. Between Two Worlds by The Paul McKenna Band, is one of the most innovative sounds, contemporary and traditional in the same breath—the future of Scottish music? I hope so. Led by Paul McKenna on guitar and vocals, the band features David McNee on bouzouki, Ruairidh Macmillan on fiddle, Sean Gray on flute & whistle, and Ewan Baird on bodhran. Paul McKenna also wrote several of the songs and some of them will be classics, the title song for one. I spent the better part of a day in the store just playing and replaying this CD, making all my customers listen to it. They liked it.

Jack Baker - irishamericannews.com

You could be forgiven for thinking (on the basis of their album cover) that the Paul McKenna Band were the folk scene’s answer to ‘Westlife’. But then there’s only so many ways you can photograph five twenty-something guys against an urban backdrop I suppose.

‘Between Two Worlds’ is a fantastic debut album from a band who have been steadily working towards complete domination of the Scottish Folk scene for the past 3 years or so. This reviewer (though I can’t speak for the rest of the band’s fan-base), is willing to overlook the omission of ‘Take My Hand’ from the final track-list. For me, the song has become the band’s signature tune – as well as being one of David McNee’s most finely crafted songs. But I’ll stop raving on about it, as it’s not on the album.

Folk albums can often find themselves treading a fine line over the balance between tunes & songs, and then of course traditional vs. original material. ‘Between Two Worlds’ sees traditional song making up the bulk of the material on the album – McKenna’s unique arrangement of ‘The Jolly Beggar’, is a million miles away from Planxty’s famous telling of the bawdy tale and is proof of the McKenna Band’s innate ability to make each performance very much their own. ‘Carnloch Bay’ is a driving & stirring soundscape – and a fine example of the ‘Power-Folk’ genre this band are slowly carving out for themselves.

There is sometimes a certain degree of self importance and pretension that pervades amongst traditional balladeers. Not so here though, indeed it is the refreshingly down to earth honesty of performance on top of their inventive and original takes on the traditional, which endears audiences to ‘The Paul McKenna Band’.

The tune sets on the album should not go without mention either, the band are all highly accomplished instrumentalists, as well as being in the company of this year’s ‘Young Traditional Musician Of The Year’, Fiddler Ruairidh MacMillan.

Faithful followers of the band (or even just occasional audience members) should be familiar by now with Ruairidh’s tale of “Henry the Lobster” (I’ll not re-tell it here), and will be pleased to note that ‘The Lobster Set’ made the final cut. Indeed the majority of the tunes are MacMillan originals, along with a couple from Seán & Robyn Gray. Such soundscapes are unrivaled in the world of tune!

I would also add that Ewan Baird is undoubtedly one of the finest percussionists on the folk scene, and should not be overlooked when searching for the key to the band’s success. I’ve seen them live on many occasions – and am yet to find Ewan on an off day (saying that though, I’m yet to find the band on an off day).

‘Between Two Worlds’ is a beautifully produced album, but when you’re co-crediting Dick Gaughan – one should expect no less. The standard of performance (and production) you might expect from a third or fourth album, but for a debut album – this is surely a sign of great things to come. Truly, they are ambassadors for Glasgow (and Scotland’s) traditional music scene.

Make no mistake, the rise (and rise) of ‘The Paul McKenna Band’ has only just begun! - The Garden Sessions

You could be forgiven for thinking (on the basis of their album cover) that the Paul McKenna Band were the folk scene’s answer to ‘Westlife’. But then there’s only so many ways you can photograph five twenty-something guys against an urban backdrop I suppose.

‘Between Two Worlds’ is a fantastic debut album from a band who have been steadily working towards complete domination of the Scottish Folk scene for the past 3 years or so. This reviewer (though I can’t speak for the rest of the band’s fan-base), is willing to overlook the omission of ‘Take My Hand’ from the final track-list. For me, the song has become the band’s signature tune – as well as being one of David McNee’s most finely crafted songs. But I’ll stop raving on about it, as it’s not on the album.

Folk albums can often find themselves treading a fine line over the balance between tunes & songs, and then of course traditional vs. original material. ‘Between Two Worlds’ sees traditional song making up the bulk of the material on the album – McKenna’s unique arrangement of ‘The Jolly Beggar’, is a million miles away from Planxty’s famous telling of the bawdy tale and is proof of the McKenna Band’s innate ability to make each performance very much their own. ‘Carnloch Bay’ is a driving & stirring soundscape – and a fine example of the ‘Power-Folk’ genre this band are slowly carving out for themselves.

There is sometimes a certain degree of self importance and pretension that pervades amongst traditional balladeers. Not so here though, indeed it is the refreshingly down to earth honesty of performance on top of their inventive and original takes on the traditional, which endears audiences to ‘The Paul McKenna Band’.

The tune sets on the album should not go without mention either, the band are all highly accomplished instrumentalists, as well as being in the company of this year’s ‘Young Traditional Musician Of The Year’, Fiddler Ruairidh MacMillan.

Faithful followers of the band (or even just occasional audience members) should be familiar by now with Ruairidh’s tale of “Henry the Lobster” (I’ll not re-tell it here), and will be pleased to note that ‘The Lobster Set’ made the final cut. Indeed the majority of the tunes are MacMillan originals, along with a couple from Seán & Robyn Gray. Such soundscapes are unrivaled in the world of tune!

I would also add that Ewan Baird is undoubtedly one of the finest percussionists on the folk scene, and should not be overlooked when searching for the key to the band’s success. I’ve seen them live on many occasions – and am yet to find Ewan on an off day (saying that though, I’m yet to find the band on an off day).

‘Between Two Worlds’ is a beautifully produced album, but when you’re co-crediting Dick Gaughan – one should expect no less. The standard of performance (and production) you might expect from a third or fourth album, but for a debut album – this is surely a sign of great things to come. Truly, they are ambassadors for Glasgow (and Scotland’s) traditional music scene.

Make no mistake, the rise (and rise) of ‘The Paul McKenna Band’ has only just begun! - The Garden Sessions

Bursting with enthusiasm and tight, driving rhythm, this young Scots band has been polishing its performance over the past few years, taking its Scots/Irish amalgam of contemporary roots music round the folk club and festival circuit. Guitar, bouzouki, cittern, flute, fiddle and heartbeat-steady bodhran provide deft instrumental textures and two sets of dance tunes. Mainly up-tempo, the pace relaxes in Burns’ ‘Lea Rig’, and swings along with delicious harmony in McKenna’s own tune to the evergreen ‘Jolly Beggar’.

Norman Chalmers - The Scotsman

Bursting with enthusiasm and tight, driving rhythm, this young Scots band has been polishing its performance over the past few years, taking its Scots/Irish amalgam of contemporary roots music round the folk club and festival circuit. Guitar, bouzouki, cittern, flute, fiddle and heartbeat-steady bodhran provide deft instrumental textures and two sets of dance tunes. Mainly up-tempo, the pace relaxes in Burns’ ‘Lea Rig’, and swings along with delicious harmony in McKenna’s own tune to the evergreen ‘Jolly Beggar’.

Norman Chalmers - The Scotsman