Reviewed by Robin Budgell

Runrig have been around a long time and were hidden in Gaelic obscurity until 1998's classic 'Searchlight' which awoke the rest of the UK to the secret.The following albums 'The Big Wheel' and 'Amazing Things' charted at four and two respectively. Mild flirtations with the singles chart in the 1990 and 1991 further raised their profile,as did featuring on TV ads.The departure of lead singer Donnie Munroe, to political life and the fickle nature of taste destined the band to fade over more recent years, leaving the faithful to pick over regular new releases. 'The Stamping Ground', with new Canadian singer Bruce Guthro, is a sparkling return to form. Mixing new technology and soaring Celtic melody has rejuvenated the sound, these guys know how to rock. Layers of percussion, drums, guitar and bass underpin hook after hook belying the ageing image. Calum and Rory MacDonald pen nearly all the songs and they are true poets, drawing inspiration from God's creation and pointing to things much greater than themselves. "Wall Of China/One Man" says, "They built the wall of China with a million men, they thought their broken promises would wear you down, but they didn't count on things they couldn't see, one island man of heart and steel...One man to change the world, one word to bring it down, one stand to right a wrong, only the meek can break the strong." This is an extraordinary album-bringing a little more wonderment into your heart. Uplifting.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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