Music Reviews
Feb-Mar 2004
Ghost Trains: All of the Songs and Some of the Story
Stewart MacDougall Treble Clef Music
 There’s nothing conventional about Stewart MacDougall’s Ghost Trains recording, which is what makes it one of the more interesting recorded works from a prairie artist in the past year. The good news is that it’s just as alluring after repeated listenings as it is interesting.
A spin-off, of sorts, from a Fringe play production that teamed MacDougall with playwright Mansel Robinson, Ghost Trains brings the character of Dougie McCrea to life in both story and song. The images and emotions of romance, adventure, heartbreak, foolhardy behaviour and tragedy dot this journey, that is thematically strung together by the rails that run from one end of this country to the other. MacDougall is not only a gifted artist, but an exceptional craftsman. His pieces are lean, poetic and melodic, and a perfect balance for this set of tunes was found between his vocals and what is a very effective, yet spare, instrumental framework. His keyboard work is the desired, additional punctuation to the precisely written lines of lyrical showstoppers like “97 Cars,” “I Just Like Trains,” and “Last of the Outlaws,” while the narrative inserts MacDougall borrowed from the theatrical production not only add an element of drama, but are essential in completing this intriguing and heartfelt story. A resonant and accomplished singing voice, some effective embellishments from the guitar of Gary Koliger and percussive arsenal of Kenny Chalmers, and exceptional packaging, are the icing on a superb piece of work from this artist – who long ago established himself as an artistic force, while working with The Great Western Orchestra, k.d. lang and Ian Tyson.
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