Windward Away

A haunting collection of introspective ballads invoking the wild and rough beauty of the Scottish Border country, with songs of sea and land, love and loneliness, Windward Away is Fisher's masterwork from a career stretching back to the early 1960s.

The story of the album starts in the mid-1990s, when Archie toured the U.S. The late founder of Red House Records, Bob Feldman, was an immense fan - their meeting resulted in the label's 1995 release of Sunsets I've Galloped Into, Fisher's 1988 recording never distributed in America. Feldman also signed Fisher to Red House for a new recording.

Archie went into the studio soon after, but writing and production was slow, seemingly unfinished to Fisher's liking.

The protracted birth of Windward Away took a piece of musical archeology to complete the picture. While moving his Edinburgh studio, engineer Neil Ross came across a safety copy of an album Archie recorded for Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy's Blackbird label in the 1970s. Blackbird folded before the 1980 release date and the album subsequently never left storage. Fast forward to 2008 when a package arrives in Fisher's mailbox: a recording and note from Ross asking, "is this the missing master?" Thus the fitting notation of the final 8 tunes as "The Missing Master." Many of these "bonus tracks" were later rerecorded and issued (some only as live performances), yet these original versions take on a wonderfully fresh air being backed by orchestra and string section. To many Archie Fisher fans, they will prove the definitive versions.

Customer Reviews:

Review #1: more great listening
2009-05-01
Another great album by Archie Fisher. It is wonderful listening. I haven't taken it out of the CD player in my car since I got it.

Review #2: Mesmerizing collection of tunes old and new by Fisher
2008-12-02
I've been a fan of Archie Fisher for decades. This new album compiles some old songs that never got to vinyl as planned and some new recordings of both his own compositions and those of others. Fisher makes every song his own. He has the ability to write contemporary lyrics and meld them with melodies that feel very traditional, especially when sung in his distinctive Scottish brogue. His voice is still rich and melodic. I continue to be amazed at how unfamiliar Americans are with his music. As with Canada's Ian Tyson (of the old Ian and Sylvia duo) too many American music lovers have never been introduced to two of the finest balladeers around today. Both are in their seventies now, but their music remains alive, fresh and derived from their life experience.

The only issue I have with this album is that the arrangements on two of the songs I found to be off-putting. Final Trawl, his own composition, is a gorgeous fisherman's song, but I had a hard time holding onto the mood of the song as the symphonic harmonies were distracting. Listen to Bok, Muir and Trickett for a more accessible interpretation several decades ago on Folkways. The same was true for Ashfields and Brine, also his own composition. You will find a much more satisfying arrangement on Fisher's album "Sunsets I've Galloped Into". I am surprised that Fisher chose such distracting accompaniment for these two stunningly beautiful songs, especially given that he has tended in the past to rely upon relatively simple, straight forward accompaniment that enriches delivery of his lovely songs.

That said, I highly recommend this album. And if you like it try some of his others: "Archie Fisher", "Man with a Rhyme", "Sunsets I've Galloped Into", "Will Ye Gang Love". and "Off the Map" are all delightful.

Review #3: Highly recommended
2008-10-10
I am a big fan of Scottish folk legend Archie Fisher, particularly his 1976 masterpiece, "Will Ye Gang, Love". So when I heard that he was releasing his first new album in twenty years, I was both thrilled and a bit nervous. Would he be too over the hill? Hardly. Fisher's voice, a gentle, supple brogue that makes every song sound timeless, is in fine form on these songs. The album also includes eight vintage recordings from the 1970s that were recorded for a record that was later shelved -- a bonus treat for longtime devotees. If you're an Archie Fisher fan from many years back, or if you're new to his work, but appreciate Celtic folk that skilfully encompasses modern influences, then you'll definitely want to check this out. Highly recommended! (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue World Music Guide)