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Shetland Times Review
| 31/12/03 |
Arty-tarty Da Fustra ain't!

Dance o da Shetland Puffins, video and CD by Da Fustra.

You've probably met the scenario at some point on holiday - you've been driving for a couple of hours, and the system is calling out for a comfort stop, coffee and, above all, somewhere to park.

On many of the main tourist routes (around Scotland at least) you stand a sporting chance of finding yourself in the clutches of The Woollen Mill. To be fair, their facilities are usually quite clean once you get to the head of the queue, and the coffee can be quite reasonable. The merchandise predictably tends towards the tartan, but the quality overall is fairly good.

Then there's the piped music . . . er, yes. A quick bit of research usually reveals that it's the sound track from a video playing on an impossibly tiny TV. The scenery on screen may be appealing, in a diminutive sort of way, but far too often the artiste responsible for the actual music is, to put it tactfully, a few branches short of the top of the talent tree. So why are they on show? In defence of the Mills, there isn't a huge choice on video, and what there is sells, pretty much regardless of quality.

Now there is a gleam of hope, in the shape of Dance o da Shetland Puffins, a video and CD from Da Fustra, whose release was possibly the worst-kept musical secret of this millennium to date.

Top class dance music coupled to stunning scenery on-screen - the Woollen Mill managers should be piling the videos high, and watching them disappear out the door onto the tour coaches, along with the over-priced Pringle knitwear and whisky-flavoured marmalade. The local tourist trade should be on a winner with this video, as well. If the band ever releases a second one, Shetland Islands Tourism should be in there, begging to have their logo on the case.

I'm sure there will be a marketing type somewhere who can assure us that this isn't just a video and CD release, but a proof-of-concept project. Fine. Originally, the plan was to produce a video, with a DVD version for those around the world whose normal TV format doesn't handle the European PAL TV standard, and also for the rapidly-growing body of viewers who buy or rent DVDs as first choice. Look in the supermarkets and electronic retailers if you don't appreciate how big the DVD thing has become.

The decision was taken quite early to lay down the music tracks in studio quality, then use the miracles of video technology to synchronise the live shots of band and dancers. This done, it was realised that the sound quality had come out so well that a CD release was perfectly feasible, and the final touch will be a cassette version as well, for the sizeable sector of the population who have not yet branched into CD.

The video itself has been a production triumph for Malcolm Younger, ably assisted by John Waters camera work. The dancing footage was filmed in Quarff Hall, which has just the right feel for a Shetland dance - thanks in no small part to successive Hall Committees, who have managed to retain the traditional appearance, while upgrading facilities. Gentle use of black-and-white effects gives a real old-time feel when filming dances like the Shetland Reel. Shots of the band in action give the context for what is happening musically, but only take up as much time as is needful - no visible ego-trippery here.

The scenery speaks for itself, but also ties in very well with what is happening in the sound-track, with Da Boannie Isle o Whalsay, Da Isles o Gletness and Mousa, to name but a few. The camera work is excellent, with Malcolm's trademark eye for an unusual or appropriate shot well in evidence. The whole production is mercifully free of the arty-tarty, apart possibly from the outdoor 'fivesome reel' - choreography has not till now been a selling-point for Da Fustra experience.

Allegedly, one of the aspects of drowning is seeing your life flash before you. I had some of this experience on Christmas Eve, minus the unpleasant wet and choking bits, when I was getting a hasty preview of the video. Malcolm has incorporated a mass of archive footage from various sources to fit in with the tune sets. In coming months I'll guarantee that many, many folk will be half out of their chairs, pointing to somebody, some car or some place they've recognised from close on 50 years ago; I certainly and unashamedly did, and I could remember the number of the Ford Classic that used to pass through Urafirth in the mid-60's! Great to see the late Willie Peterson as we like to remember him, in full flow at the Unst pony sales.

I did vaguely promise the band that there would be no cheap jokes about the video looking better on wide-screen; it's for the scenery, dammit... Peter... Cecil... OK?

Going back to the CD, the technical quality and overall sound achieved in JJ's 'ben end' is arguably the best we have heard from the band yet. The balance across the front line of Peter, Inga and James really does justice to the arrangements, and allows delicate touches to be appreciated.

All the tunes are by Shetland-based composers, which isn't really a restriction, given names like Ronnie Cooper, Jim Halcrow, Gideon Stove, Frank Jamieson, and Peter Wood himself, with a whole bunch of good compositions, including a storming two-step, Olaf Sitricson. Really good dancy stuff. Ronnie Jamieson gets a well-deserved crack of the whip in the credits, with classics such as The Shetland Fisherman's Backstep, Pottinger's Pineapple Polka, and an unusual but successful venture into the piping idiom with Rob Smith's Wedding.

A cracking set of new jigs feature The Show Jig (Nigel Hallet), Passing Places (Judy Nicolson) and Lenny Smith of Heylor, from Peter Sinclair. This last tune is a tribute to the unforgettable self-taught genius in radio and electronics, to whom so many, from deep-sea trawlermen to the folks around Northmavine turned for electronic repairs. I for one will never forget the advice and endless hospitality I received in Heylor. Nice one, Peter, and pat on the back to the band for the arrangement.

The four waltz sets in differing idioms take the ear. The 'classic' set would be Ronas Voe and Sunset Over Foula from Ronnie Cooper, finishing with John Barclay's Isles o' Gletness. Peter's tribute to a stalwart of the local music scene, Fiona Leask's Waltz, really takes hold of you on the second listen. Andrew Hughson contributes another catchy tune with Magnus and Dot's Wedding (Dot tragically passed away just before Christmas). Jim Halcrow over the years has contributed immensely to raising the standard of composition and performance in Shetland, and we could easily be disappointed by anyone else's rendition of the beautiful Doreen's Waltz. However, Da Fustra went for it, and it's no' half bad! Hope Jim agrees.

Finally, a peerie hint to those who never have come to terms with changing signature tunes - have a listen to the very last tune on the CD, and imagine it's 5:30 on Radio Shetland . . .

Maurice J Smith

Video Release
| 20/12/03 |
The new "Dance o da Puffins" video is released today, Saturday 20th December, the eagerly awaited follow up to the very successful "A Shetland Dance", and fourth in Da Fustra series.

Web Site is Launched
| 20/12/03 |
The successful launch of the new Puffin Music website took place today - coinciding with the release of Da Fustras new "Dance o da Puffins" album.

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