The Outside Track But Right On Course
"Having heard them perform live and been mightily impressed, I'm pleased to say The Outside Track has produced their eponymous first CD. This band is a fine example of how young musicians can take 'traditional' acoustic folk music, ensure it continues to evolve and yet remain true to its roots. The minute you listen to them you just know they're going a long way. 'A Kiss in The Morning' has some hauntingly beautiful vocal harmonies entwined with flute, clarsach and fiddle, 'Sheliah's Spectacles' further showcases the intricacies of their instrumental work, and 'The Lonsome Hen' is another fine example of their vocal talents with outstanding harmonies and wonderful phrasing, once again their instruments weave a web around their words. So who are these talented folk? There's Norah Rendell who plays flute with a degree of style and sensitivity envied by many, Fiona Black who plays accomplished, entrancing piano accordion, and Alan Jordan who provides the sharp guitar work with a distinct jazz influence to his playing. Tricia Clark (remember the 2005 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award) is a class act on the fiddle with a natural distinctive style, and finally, Ailie Robertson who has the most delicate of touches and makes the Scottish harp come alive in her hands. It's little wonder that between them the members of The Outside Track have gathered an impressive tally of awards. These young folk combine their instrumental abilities with intricately balanced vocals, which blend seamlessly to deliver some of the freshest traditional music I've heard in a long time. They deserve success – I've a feeling it won't be a long wait to hear it happen."
- Tim Carroll, FolkWords

"Each player is evidently both alert and fully responsive to the ebb and flow of dynamics required by the contours of the tunes. There's no sense of formula to the arrangements, and no hard-and-fast role delineation with regard to allocation of melody or front-line, and this makes for some enchanting and sprightly interplay and swopping-round of parts"
- David Kidman

"This supremely talented set of young multi-national musicians blend to make a joyous sound. This eclectic combination buzz and fizz together, producing modern acoustic folk music of the very highest quality.

The album kicks off with a sparkling set of reels showing to great effect the superb fiddle of Patricia Clark interplaying with the flute of Norah Rendell. The set-up of flute, fiddle and clarsaich brings to mind early Chieftains and the playing is of as high a quality. Next up is the first song Thaney, a Karine Polwart song in the old ballad tradition that builds slowly into a really powerful finish. Another set of tunes follows, based round the accordion and harp to beautiful effect. In this, as in the others instrumentals, there are the sudden stops and changes in tempo that turn a straightforward rendering into a fascinating listening experience. The only Irishman in the group, Alan sings a beautiful Gaelic Do Thugas Gra Clelbh Duit, followed by a Cape Breton fiddle tune then a song from Alberta.

And so it goes on throughout the album, Irish songs run hand-in-hand with Galacian harp tunes; traditional songs alongside contemporary ones. The mix of nationalities and experience gives rich picking for choice of material and The Outside Track have selected well, playing to both the group's and their individual strengths. This is a superb debut album from a precociously talented group of musicians where the singing and playing is of the highest standards and the overall mood one of joyous exuberance."
- Kevin Moug, Maverick Magazine

“Her synthesis of Irish, Scottish and contemporary harping technique into an individual style represents the realisation of otherwise unimagined possibilities for the Celtic harp.”
– Niall Keegan

“Quite simply, this girl is a star”
– Norman Mitchell, Head of Music GWC

“Your harp playing takes my breath away and makes me weepy! That's a good thing! I honestly don't think I’ve ever heard anything so beautiful in all my years”
- fan in Florida, USA

“An act worthy of particular mention was Ailie Robertson, who played the harp so beautifully”
– The Unicorn Folk Magazine, July 2006

“Wonderful Stuff!”
– John Kirkpatrick, Bellowhead

“Very sophisticated and accomplished…gorgeous, beautifully-placed chords”
– Lynne Heraud, New Roots Adjudicator

“ Beautiful playing, demonstrating marvellous control of touch and tone”
– Benji Kirkpatrick, New Roots Adjudicator

“Virtuosic Clarsach playing”
– John Duncan, Chairman of ESU Scotland

“Played to absolute perfection!”
– Anne MacDearmid