Songs of Loss and Healing

This is the third solo album by accomplished London-based classical guitarist Douglas MacGregor. A deeply personal project, it explores the connections between music, loss and healing – MacGregor experienced delayed grief, 25 years after the death of his mother to cancer when he was only seven.

The album is emotionally challenging – a musical journey through grief – so it's unsurprising that there are few strong melodic themes to hook us in; instead there are scattered, searching motifs and an emphasis on creating a mood evoking the confusion and uncertainty of loss. ‘The Pathway’ hovers between major and minor, as if battling not to stray into sadness. ‘New Beginnings’ starts tentatively, as if it dare not hope that grief can be resolved. One of the most appealing tracks is the waltz ‘Song for Lost Childhood’, which reminded me of Freddie Phillips’ music from Trumpton and Camberwick Green – TV delights of my own lost childhood. Songs of Loss and Healing is an honest, brave project that celebrates the power of music in grief.