Ali Ferguson - The Windmills And The Stars (2011) [TR24][OF]

"The Windmills and The Stars" is the debut album from Ali Ferguson and is a collection of songs and ambient pieces. Born from listening to too many Pink Floyd,Peter Gabriel and Sigur Ros CDs the album was recorded inbetween Ali's "day job" as guitarist for both ex-Genesis singer Ray Wilson and Scottish songwriting legend Dougie Maclean. Featuring ambient "found sounds",birdsong, samples, distorted drumloops and Floyd-esque guitar and vocals, Ali hopes the album will act as an atmospheric soundtrack to the films in your head…

Ali Ferguson is a Scottish guitarist, singer and songwriter based in Edinburgh… Currently best known as touring guitarist for Genesis and Stiltskin singer Ray Wilson and Scottish songwriting legend Dougie Maclean, gigs that have seen him play to hundreds of thousands of people all over Europe, Ali also plays for much-lauded singer/songwriter Fraser Anderson and has performed alongside Americana artist Stevie Agnew on and off for many years.

Ali's first solo album "The Windmills And The Stars" was released in 2011 to critical acclaim and his second "A Sequence Of Moments" followed in January 2016.

Brought up in Fife as part of a musical family Ali's own musical journey began at the age of 5 when he started playing the 'Cello in school. Having played in various school and regional orchestras over the following years Ali joined his first rock band as a lead vocalist at the age of 15 performing songs from the likes of Hendrix, Van Halen, Free, Pink Floyd and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Taken under the wing of Pete Agnew, bass player with Scottish rockers Nazareth who's son was also in the band, Ali discovered the guitar around this time and realised that maybe this was the instrument for him…not the 'cello after all! From that moment Ali's formative musical years continued with playing a constant stream of gigs in venues,many of which he was too young to be allowed in. When high school finished Ali went on to study guitar on the "Popular Music" course at Perth College gaining valuable experience in recording in many styles and continuing to regularly perform live as part of many different bands including both Pink Floyd and Eagles tribute bands.

These days Ali's thoughtful, laid-back, melodic style, love of ambient effects and soundscapes and wide musical grounding in various styles sees him in demand for recording with many varied artists and projects in all sorts of genres. From the delicate singer/songwriting of Dougie Maclean, Fraser Anderson and Gina MacLeod through the gritty Americana of Stevie Agnew and Prog and heavy rock of Ray Wilson's Genesis Classic and Stiltskin projects to the ambient Floydy spaciness of his solo work…Ali is happy as long as he's playing for the song!