The Golden Tree are releasing the band's debut album on Christmas day 2023, hoping this will be the album you all play after you've finished your Christmas dinner and are unable to move too much, so you can wallow in the majesty of how The Golden Tree Presents Scottish Songs Vol 1. The Golden Tree are the new band of Bobby Bluebell and Grahame Skinner. This album maybe released on Christmas day but it's not just for Christmas it will sound fabulous all year round, an album of super sophisticated covers.
The album opens slowly and gently with Wild Mountain Thyme that will allow everyone gathered, to slowly join in while raising a glass of single malt, as the golden voice of Hipsway's Grahame Skinner gets to the heart of this classic Scottish folk song, while burying any thought that Ed Sheeran massacring the song was a good idea.
Catch the Wind takes the Donovan classic wrapping it in strings, with empathetic vocals perfect for that part of Christmas day, when one or two older family members are starting to get a touch maudlin, while claiming that they've stolen Eartha Kitt's versions arrangement.
Reflections Of My Life is a totally beautiful version of the Marmalade classic, hoping to be able to go back to your old home, as the woozy strings accentuate the feelings in the lyrics, as many of you are gathered back at the parental home, this becomes full of deeper meaning, for a song that was originally about the Vietnam war, hopefully this version won't have loads of tragic scenes of Vietnam videos made for it, but this version is quite glorious.
Black Eyed Boy is a very grown-up serious version of the Texas hit, drenched in sombre strings with carefully enunciated vocals making sure every last word hits home, while you all sit trying to enjoy the Christmas cake.
Poor Old Soul takes the Orange Juice standard, slows it down and adds layer upon layer of meaning and feeling to the lyrics, as it's meant for Christmas listening there are some jingling bells set among the sultry strings, as the heartbreak becomes clear.
Why is the Annie Lennox classic rather than the Carly Simon one, this version has shimmering percussion, a harp being carefully plucked and slow thoughtful vocals, getting deep into the heart of the song's lyrics. One or two of the aunts and Uncles may have nodded off by this point, but really this music is too good to sleep too.
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I Should Have Known Better takes Jim Diamonds rather cringy ballad slowing it down somewhat, cloaking it in strings and somehow making it far more heartfelt, as the violin solo really lays on the sweet sorrow of the lovers parting perfectly.
Breakaway takes the much-covered Gallagher & Lyle classic just nailing the harmonies needed to imbue this with all the beauty at the songs heart. You may need some chocolate liqueurs to aid listening to this.
Heaven is covered in strings sparing percussion and carefully sung lyrics, wondering if anything ever happens in Heaven as the inevitable bagpiper starts up as the Dundee cake is served.
Chelsea Girl reworks Simple Minds bombastic love song into something far prettier, as he lusts after that girl who is now being called the Chelsea Girl, as the song builds half the guests will start chanting Chelsea Girl along with the record, hopefully in time with the song, but probably not.
Arms Of Mary is a beautifully simple version of the Sutherland Brothers & Quiver monument, guaranteed to get the drunken sing along going full swing, while half the guest will want everyone to shut up and listen to how great a version this is.
The album closes with the deep beauty of their version of Fiction Factory's Feels Like Heaven stripped of any synths or 80's drums, being replaced by the strings shimmering, helping to make everyone glow from deep within at the conclusion of the extremely beautiful album of cover versions.
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