Sunsets I've Galloped Into...

Although Archie Fisher is probably the most respected Scottish singer/songwriter of his generation, his recorded output is surprisingly limited; 1995's Sunsets I've Galloped Into is only his fourth studio album in nearly three decades. In terms of Fisher's vocals, songwriting, and choice of outside material, Sunsets I've Galloped Into is typically excellent. Fisher's original songs are as strong as ever, but most of the album consists of songs written by friends and associates. This gives the album a warmly communal feel, even though Fisher, his producer Garnet Rogers, and bassist David Woodhead handle all of the instrumental chores themselves. The production is low-key and intimate, with only a couple of poor choices in arrangement, most notably the irritating guitar synthesizer that detracts from the mournful "Bill Hosie," an elegy for a Scottish aviator who died on the initial flight of a vintage aircraft he'd reconstructed. Although Sunsets I've Galloped Into is a fine album, the relative lack of original material makes it feel a bit like a stopgap project. ~ Stewart Mason|