Reviewed by Jay Scott Kanes

The writer is the author of Island Toes A'Tapping, a 2006 book about music and musicians on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

HONG KONG -- News that Fiddlers' Sons, long my favorite band, albeit one based far away in Atlantic Canada, released a new CD, a double one at that, sent me into spasms of anticipation long before a slim packet with the music inside reached my mailbox. Seldom has my postman made a nicer delivery.

Active almost entirely on Prince Edward Island, the band consists of Eddy Quinn (lead singer, bodhran), John Webster (guitar), Garth Matthews (bass, vocals) and (of late) Courtney Hogan (fiddle). Together, they create a potent blend of Celtic, country and folk flavors.

The new album, This Is My Island, has 21 tracks on two discs, titled Rural Routes and City Beats to reflect the songs' country or urban themes. It's the band's fifth studio album.

So come and see the red clay of my island.
The first in bloom before it's even spring.
The days are warm, the nights are cool.
You'll find there’s fish in every pool,
And you can hear a thousand robins sing.
This is my island and it's good for love.
It's good for anyone you'd care to bring.
This is my island, Prince Edward Island.
It's good for love and every growing thing.
From “This Is My Island", Written by E. Lane / J. Frenken, recorded by Fiddlers' Sons, 2010

On the Rural Routes disc, there's a version of the Stan Rogers classic “Mary Ellen Carter". Other highlights include “The Fiddler", a tribute written by Matthews to his father, and “Queen of the Furrows” about love at the Dundas Plowing Match.

At the close of summer there's a county fair
In the village that we call Dundas.
We have a great big party showing livestock there
When the farmers hold a plowing match.
It was there I met her in a field of clover,
Best woman that I ever have seen.
She didn't mind getting dirty turning red clay over
So to be my little darling queen.
Now Charlottetown has the Gold Cup girls,
And Souris has Queen of the Sea.
There's a Miss Northumberland in Murray River,
But the queen of the furrows is a girl for me.
From “Queen of the Furrows", Written by Eddy Quinn, recorded by Fiddlers' Sons, 2010

Among the City Beats, “Prescription For a Heartache", “City of Champions", “Fast Friends” and “The Message” all deserve special attention.

All I really need is a prescription for a heartache.
Take some time and make it real.
Test the waters for a new direction.
Try to change the way I feel.
Terrified we wander on the outskirts
Of sense and sensibility.
Wandering away the empty hours,
I need someone to rescue me.
Just imagine if it were that easy.
We could jump for joy and shout.
How could something that should be so simple
Be so hard to figure out?
From “Prescription For a Heartache", Written by John Webster, recorded by Fiddlers' Sons, 2010

Extra musical clout comes from Serge Bernard’s stellar production work at Diamond Productions in Stratford, near Charlottetown, the provincial capital. Having great supporting musicians helps too. Guest participants on the album include: Bernard (mandolin, banjo, guitar), Dale DesRoches (percussion), Chris Corrigan (electric guitar), Todd MacLean (saxophone, keyboards), Mike Pendergast (accordion), Greg Bungay (tin whistle, flute), Cynthia MacLeod (fiddle), Sheila Fitzpatrick (fiddle), Meaghan Blanchard (vocals), Jon Matthews (harmony vocals) and Kerry Campbell (keyboards, accordion).

Quinn wrote nine of the songs without a dud among them.

And we should have worked it out.
I have no doubt.
Our troubles were precious and few.
There's no secrets in this town.
I never looked down
When I heard you're with somebody new.
When friends ask me what went wrong,
I don't know what to say.
Cause I know you loved me then
And that was a perfect day.
Yes, I know you loved me once.
From “Perfect Day", Written by Eddy Quinn, recorded by Fiddlers' Sons, 2010

Matthews and Webster did some writing too. Much of the remaining material, resulting in the weakest tracks, is “traditional". This band needs to remember that it sounds the best and delivers the most potent messages on original songs.

Took a little chance
Looking for romance
And met you for a day….
And we shot the breeze
With familiar ease.
And let the raindrops fall
While the clock was turning circles on the wall.
Now who knows where this goes or how it ends?
Ah, but come what may it started with fast friends.
From “Fast Friends', Written by Eddy Quinn, recorded by Fiddlers' Sons, 2010

“The Message” began with a piano instrumental by Brenda Stubbert who challenged Matthews to write lyrics for it. Eventually, he did.

At first I didn't know just what I was hearing.
All it seemed to be was a very pretty tune.
But it wouldn't leave my mind. I could always hear it.
I didn't recognize this message came from you.
You said don't take too long before you start believing.
Things have gone all wrong. The world is gone astray.
Help me stop the wars, corruption and starvation.
I will send someone to show you how to pray.
From “The Message", Written by Garth Matthews / Brenda Stubbert, recorded by Fiddlers' Sons, 2010

The band experiences instability at its fiddle position, but the changes, always involving talented young musicians, never stop Fiddlers' Sons from sounding great. The previous albums were Beaches of Home (1998), Changing Times (2000), Eagles Fly (2004) and Shoulder of the Road (2007).

Since acquiring my first Fiddlers' Sons CD (circa 2000), I've struggled with a big dilemma. When almost any Fiddlers' Sons song plays at random on my office computer, it sounds entirely “too good'. Instantly my concentration on work vanishes as I listen intently. My brain loves the experience, but it dampens office productivity.

Bands come and go, but Fiddlers' Sons has persisted for 13 years. Long may they play! Most listeners to This Is My Island will hope for decades more.

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