". an unfamiliar name for some familiar faces: Charlie McKerron (Capercaillie), Duncan Chisholm (Wolfstone), Gordon Gunn (his eponymous band) and Adam Sutherland (Croft No 5) get together to play traditionally-inspired contemporary Scottish fiddle music, with a backing band that includes the wonderful Tim Edey on guitar and box, and several Capercaillie regulars, Kris Drever contributes a couple of vocals. Recorded as "live" as possible, the album largely retains the spontaneous feel of a truly great session. Great tunes, great fiddlers, a great time. Who could ask for more?"

What Road? Is one of those CDs that grows in appeal with each listening.

The sound is, perhaps, what one would expect from a Scots band with a line-up rich in fiddles; warm, irrepressibly Scottish, and with a nice 'chewy' texture.

The playing is rhythmically tight (with a nice smattering of quirks), and the harmonies are suitably sophisticated, but without ever going over the top and clouding the overall sound.

The first thing you'll notice about the album is a sense of cohesion - which is not to say that all the tracks sound the same: far from it. But there's an overall feeling of competence and ensemble here - everyone sounds comfortable within the band, and confident with his own place in it.

I particularly liked the opening track 'the rizla', which sets the tone nicely - a sparse opening blossoming into some characteristically virtuosic yet laid-back fiddling, backed with jazzy keyboard harmonies and just the right amount of rhythmical spice. It's worth noting that this is one of several tunes on this album written by Charlie McKerron - fiddle player with Capercaillie.

Other favourite tracks (although it's difficult to choose) include a fairly rollicking version of the traditional 'Shady Grove' - lovely fiddling (of course), and some fine, if understated, vocal harmonies; and 'Skipping barfit through the heather/Fiery Jack', in which the traditional song is given a magnificently moody arrangement and backed, to great effect, with a fitting and atmospheric tune written by another of the group's fiddlers, Adam Sutherland.

Contemporary Scottish Folk - very richly contemporary, very strongly Scottish Folk. Capercaillie's Charlie McKerron has palled up with fellow superheroes Adam Sutherland, Brian McAlpine, Gordon Gunn, Tim Edey, Kris Drever, and Duncan Chisholm to form Session A9. Some traditional tunes, plenty from Charlie's pen, from Gordon, Adam and Tim's too.

Always brilliant, strong, superbly arranged. Gentle airs, thundering reels, box and fiddle supreme.

This is an album which will have wide appeal to those who like Celtic music, admire fine Scottish fiddle playing or know Charlie McKerron's distinguished contribution to Capercaillie's repertoire.

McKerron is accompanied on this album (from his own new record label) by three other fine fiddlers: Duncan Chisholm (of Wolfstone), Gordon Gunn (of the Gordon Gunn Band) and Adam Sutherland (of Croft Number Five). The band also includes Kris Drever (vocals, guitar and mandolin), Brian McAlpine (keyboards) and Tim Edey (guitar and melodeon) with backing by Capercaillie musicians Ewen Vernal (double bass), David "Chimp" Robertson (percussion) and Michael McGoldrick (playing the bodhran no less on one track). McKerron also contributes additional percussion. If this line up makes you feel excited wait until you hear the music! The album captures the feeling of an ad hoc and intimate pub session combined with contemporary polish and panache.

There are 26 tunes featured in the 13 tracks with seven traditional tunes and 19 contemporary compositions including nine by McKerron himself. I found I tuned immediately into the album through recognising some familiar and favourite tunes of mine. These include two tunes usually heard with the flute leading - McGoldrick's "Farewell to Whalley Range" (from Capercaillie's "Nadurra" album) and Gordon Duncan's "Pressed for Time" (heard previously on Flook's "Rubai" album) which has some outstanding double bass. The transposition of these tunes to the fiddle is brilliant and made me listen to them with renewed interest. Another exciting new interpretation is McKerron's own "Alisdair's Tune" (from Capercaillie's "Glenfinnan" album).

Throughout the album there is a keen sense of tradition combined with contemporary interpretation. This is immediately apparent in the first two tracks. I think the keyboard, guitar and double bass contributions to the album are particularly effective especially in providing a chilled jazz type contrast to the folk ambience in tracks like "Gillian's Waltz" (a superb composition by Gunn) and the three traditional tunes in track seven. There are some lively and upbeat numbers too including an American sounding song "Shady Grove" and two tunes by Fred Morrison and McKerron on track five. Perhaps the album reaches its breathtaking best in track six with a traditional tune ("Katy Hill") sandwiched by two McKerron compositions. The pace builds up through the tunes and the sudden silence at the end at last allows the listener to draw breath.

One of the tracks to make a lasting impression is Drever's dramatic rendition of the traditional song "Skipping Barfit Through the Heather" on the penultimate track which is brought to a conclusion by Sutherland's "Fiery Jock". This last tune title seems to me to sum up so well the passion of this enticing album.

I can only hope after so enjoying "What Road?" that this dream fiddle team will be touring far and wide, and making more recordings.

Every so often, and not all that often, the humdrum workaday life of a reviewer can suddenly be dragged out of its complacency, when a CD arrives from a group you haven't heard of, you stick it into the player and immediately the wow factor hits you, and you realise the world is a better place than it just was. This is one of those releases.

The band comprises Duncan Chisholm, Kris Drever, Tim Edey, Gordon Gunn, Brian McAlpine, Charlie McKerron and Adam Sutherland, so there was never going to be much question about quality, was there? Centring on the vibrant fiddle traditions of Scotland, but with global influences, this album has the good-time feel of a session rather than the arid feel of a studio recording, so top marks to all the production team for that.

The selections are all inspired, with a heavy slant towards contemporary compositions and a few traditional numbers. Personal favourites are Leire's Welcome To Cozac / Fiona Macaskill of Breakish and The Aird Ranters / Inshriach, but that almost seems a tad unfair to the other eleven tracks not to give them a mention, too.

In addition to all the tunes, Kris Drever adds his distinctive voice, including a jaunty version of Shady Grove. Definitely something for everyone here, even to the extent that I played this to a distinctly non-folkie acquaintance who immediately asked to borrow the CD!

Given all their other band commitments, I don't know if Session A9 have any public appearances coming up soon, but if they do, be there, and be prepared to be gob smacked.

"Scotland's battle of the fiddle bands -- between Fiddlers' Bid and Blazin' Fiddles -- has become a three-way contest.

Born out of impromptu musical gatherings along the road to the Highlands, Session A9 is led by bowsmen Charlie McKerron, Gordon Gunn, Duncan Chisholm and Adam Sutherland. Completing the line-up are Kris Drever (vocals/guitar) Brian McAlpine (keyboards) and Tim Edey (guitar).

Despite their ad hoc beginnings -- still evident in the fresh vivacity of their playing -- this debut album is a thoroughly crafted piece of work. Its fire is matched by deft orchestration, optimising both the interplay between the fiddles and the dialogue buzzing through the band.

The material covers many styles and tempos, but the track-listing has a contemporary slant; over half the tunes are band's own compositions, with several by other leading Scottish players; and two powerful arrangements of traditional songs by Drever."