Angels from the Ashes: Blair Douglas's New CD

As would be said in Gaelic, Blair Douglas did not need to 'buy' his musical ability, he inherited it from both sides of his family. But genetics alone cannot explain this rare talent. What Blair has done over the years to hone and perfect his talents through good times and not-so-good times by dint of sheer hard and often thankless work. His musical expertise is a distillation of the tuition he received and the influences to which he was exposed, the years of playing and composing, and his recording and producing experience.
His last album, A Summer in Skye was one of class and originality and so it was always going to be a tall order for Blair to match it. But in Angels from the Ashes he has achieved this by providing us with a beautifully crafted CD which, though being remarkable in its originality, is unmistakably the work of Blair Douglas. It features delightful airs (the composition of which is a speciality of Blair's) waltzes, pipe tunes which are destined quickly to become part of the many pipers' repertoire, laments including An Gaidheal Uasal for Donald Archie MacDonald, a collector with the School of Scottish Studies and a gentleman. Angels from the Ashes also introduces a strong Cajun flavour to Blair's work and on this showing what a rich musical seam it promises to be. 
In the tradition of many Celtic composers, Blair's music draws from the deep well of social and political injustice, both at home and abroad. The plight of the Gael provides the local backdrop while 20th century icons like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Michael Collins bring, through their own local struggles, an international dimension. Where some would have turned to anger and brought bitterness and cynicism to the table, Blair's music exudes hope and brings a different kind of fruit.