“When you're dealing with Dick Gaughan one encounters one of the most coveted and revered voices of recent times. A man whose vocal style is unique both stirring and spine chilling . . . with the right material a lethal experience. Fortunately Sail On has strength in adundance from Hamish Henderson's '51st (Highland) Division's Farewell to Sicily' here given 11 spell-binding minutes and Pete Seeger's corrosive 'Waist Deep in the Big Muddy' allied to some of his own songs, 'Son of Man' and the title track especially standing out. A deft electric guitarist as well as pulling off some neat solos and possessing that unique voice Dick Gaughan has created his latest masterpiece . . . it's called Sail On.” – John O’Regan, Rock ’n’ Reel |
“Dick Gaughan has been almost perversely reluctant to make records under his own name. He has never found it a satisfactory exercise: he soon loses interest in his recorded material – "All I can hear is the mistakes" – and he claims, with a hint of a smile, that his new album, Sail On, his first in seven long years, is no exception to the rule. But exceptional it surely is. For a start, it contains one of the greatest performances that has ever come soaring out of the cornucopia of folk/traditional music over the years. His version of Hamish Henderson's '51st (Highland) Division's Farewell to Sicily' is awesome in its vision, its feel, its skill, its deep, deep understanding. . . . Gaughan is the kind of no-prisoners "protest" singer you don't mess with.” – Alistair Clark, The Scotsman |