Zama Zama

With this new album, Scottish traditional music legends Battlefield Band explore the greed, disasters, human resilience and victories inherent in the search and exploitation of different sources of wealth.

After more than three decades performing on the international stage, inspired by their rich musical heritage and fired by the strength of the modern Scottish cultural scene, this powerful album illustrates that Battlefield Band continue to forge ahead as pioneers for contemporary Scottish traditional music.

Featuring songs and tunes old & new written by Battlefield Band, Norman Buchan, Alan Reid, Alasdair White, Allan MacDonald, Mike Katz, Brian McNeill and Nina Simone.

‘This album started as a collection of songs and tunes about gold. But as we searched, like the alchemists of old, it turned into a wider idea. In the process we saw the greed, disasters and victories inherent in the search and exploitation of various sources of wealth in this world. Then, as if by demonic serendipity, along came the worldwide economic crisis. We watched the major banks, insurance companies and Hedge Funds etc., implode, discrediting the entire financial system and many of its managers and advisers – but there was still more to come. We, in Britain, could only stand and watch aghast as many Members of Parliament, and the House of Lords at Westminster, ‘the Mother of Parliaments’ were exposed for their cynical misuse of the expenses system, often amounting to fraud. As we put this album together we have been amazed, angered, depressed and hilariously horrified.’
Alan Reid 2009