Here is the Oban Times review of "Take Me Over the Tide". Nice to know we are remembered in our old cruising grounds.


TURNING TIDE FOR THE BOAT BAND

The recent jaunt, overseas to Iona, gave me the chance to review the Boat bands latest album release. Once you get to Mull, the hour long Bowman bus bonus to Fionnaphort needs a soundtrack. Down through Lochdon into Glen More and on past Pennygael to Bunessan - it is just so majestic! All that a trip like this needs is a musical soundtrack. I got wired in, pressed the iPod into service and off we went with "Take me over the tide." It is very apt title given the two ferry journeys to get to paradise that is Iona. The new CD celebrates the old and very early Boat band days of 1989/ 1990. You see back then the Boat band had gathered at Wendy's shed in order to get some music recorded for the inaugural tour. That done, the band set sail in an old Admiralty wooden launch from Glasson Dock, Lancashire and headed north and west to plunder the Scottish isles audiences in return for great concert of live tunes and the aforementioned music on cassette to take home. The routine, when touring on the old boat that gave the band its name, was to head for "a likely looking harbour" set anchor, and ready themselves to get ashore where a handy pub was spied and a gig would be secured. The opening number would be a rousing tune to get the audience onside, would usually be a jaunty Cajun ditty – and the evening was underway. It's a formula that has stood the test of time and 20 years on - the music remains very strong. Nautical jigs, a sprinkle of disaster songs (always a mainstay of the folk tradition – a good concert can be judged by the body count!) and a lament at the lack of fish caught on the journey to Mull - are just some of the highlights of this great double album. The Mishnish Bar in Tobermory, a favourite Boat band haunt, is celebrated with a trio of tunes that set the feet tapping. Our journey north on the Craignure – Tobermory leg of our trip to the isles was again to be on one of Bowman's finest coaches. This offered the chance of an unexpected, but fantastic guided tour, by way of an informative commentary which we were treated by our driver. And this on a service bus! We arrived in Tob ready for a dram in the Mish. Well, it's traditional! You just can't beat Mull and Iona for the "staycation", you know. The Boat band will be welcomed back!
Campbell Cameron