Spirit of the Glen Journey

Soon after the Classical Brits in May the Royal Scots Dragoon Guard were posted to Basra. Understanding that the pipers are first and foremost serving soldiers, a mobile recording unit was taken out to the British base in Basra in order to record key tracks of the album. This makes it the first ever recording from the frontline of a warzone. After recording the pipers went back to their all-important jobs such as guarding prisoners in the military prison, tank crews, are drivers etc.
Those tracks recorded in Basra are Abide With Me, Dear Lord and Father, In Flanders Field and For the Fallen. The piper on For the Fallen is recorded live outside at the end of the runway on the base. You can hear the hum of Basra in the background. With Jim Naughtie reading the poem over the piper, it's an extremely emotional track. In a moment that evokes the oscar-winning score of the film Atonement, Dear Lord and Father is sung by men from the regiment out in Basra. The power of these tracks to stir and move the listener is only highlighted knowing the context in which they were recorded. The album also features stunning recordings of Greensleeves, Unchained Melody and Auld Lang Syne.
The booklet contains exclusive photographs from Basra and the CD is enhanced with footage showing the recording in Basra.