Pan Records

Comparing A Starr Is Born (CDPAN024) and Ten Years On (CDPAN047)

It is a rare privilege to witness the artistic metamorphosis of a musician from their very first notes in a studio to the full flowering of their professional career. In the Pan Records archive, few journeys are as compelling as that of Brandon McPhee. By placing his debut, A Starr Is Born, alongside the anniversary collection, Ten Years On, we gain a fascinating insight into a decade of disciplined practice and musical evolution.

The Dawn of Talent: A Starr Is Born

Recorded at the age of eleven, A Starr Is Born remains one of the most remarkable debut albums in the history of Scottish traditional music. At this stage, McPhee’s playing was characterised by a staggering raw ability.

• Technical Profile: The album captures a "natural" player. His timing was already remarkably stable, a testament to the influence of his grandfather, Donald Starr.

• The Repertoire: The tracks are chosen to honour the foundation of the button box tradition, featuring sets like The Atholl Highlanders and The Road and the Miles to Dundee.

• The Aesthetic: There is an infectious, youthful energy in this recording. It is the sound of a prodigy discovering the limits of his instrument and pushing against them with joyful abandon.

The Mature Maestro: Ten Years On

Fast-forward a decade, and Ten Years On presents us with an artist who has not only won the All Scotland Senior Traditional Accordion Solo Championship but has also toured the globe and performed for royalty.

• Technical Evolution: The most striking difference is the articulation. In this anniversary album, McPhee’s triplets are crisper, his bellows control more nuanced, and his dynamic range significantly broader.

• Complex Arrangements: Whilst the debut focused on traditional structures, Ten Years On features intricate arrangements such as the Jacqueline Waltz and the Bluebell Polka, requiring a level of finger independence that only thousands of hours of practice can produce.

• Creative Expansion: This album sees McPhee stepping forward as a composer in his own right, notably with the inclusion of the Flying Scotsman, a track that has since become a technical benchmark for contemporary accordionists.

Comparative Analysis at a Glance

The Verdict: A Living Legacy

To listen to these two albums in succession is to hear a boy become a man through the language of the accordion. While A Starr Is Born is a record of pure, unadulterated potential, Ten Years On is the proof of that potential fulfilled. Brandon McPhee has managed the difficult task of maintaining the soul of the "Shand style" while infusing it with a modern technical brilliance that is entirely his own.

Buy A Starr Is Born - Brandon McPhee

Buy - Ten Years On - Brandon McPhee