Big Spree

by Breabach

Overview

The debut from Breabach marks them firmly as a Scottish band, and not merely because of the double bagpipe lineup. From the strathspeys and reels to the stirring marches and the airs, they play with Highland fire and verve, whether looking back on the tradition or performing their original material, which blends in perfectly, as you'd expect from a young band that includes a pair of Young Scottish Traditional Musicians of the Year. Perhaps surprisingly, the pipes never seem to dominate (perhaps because both pipers double on whistles), and Patsy Reid's strings -- she plays violin, viola, and cello -- are much to the front, while Ewan Robertson provides a strong presence on guitar and vocals. They're wonderful on the faster material, kicking in with a stirring march, but they also have the finesse to put across an air like "Hector the Hero" with delicacy and emotion, while the gorgeous "Lochaber No More" (with Reid singing) is an ancient melody that comes alive anew in their hands before they close the disc with a tumult of dance music that roars out of the speakers. On the basis of this, Breabach look set to become a major force in Scottish music very quickly. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	06/24/2008
Label:	Compass
UPC:	0766397448121
Rank:	88069

Tracks

1. Kilbowie Cottage: John Maccoll's March to Kilbowie Cottage/Davy Webster
2. Chloe's Passion: Chloe's Passion/The Snuff Wife/Merrily Danced the Quak
3. The Rolling Hills of the Borders
4. George White's Favourite: George White's Favourite/The Green Fields of
5. The Full Booner: Nameless/Brose and Butter/The Full Booner
6. Hector the Hero
7. Under the Influence: Sheepskin and Beeswax/The Ballivanich Reel/No More
8. James Gunn Henderson: James Gunn Henderson/Dusky Meadow/Rod Alexander's
9. Lochaber No More
10. Cockerel in the Creel: Cockerel in the Creel/Bonnie Isle O' Whalsay/Rui
11. Caber Feidh: Paul K's Strathspey/Miss Drummond of Perth/The Man from Gl

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Breabach   Primary Artist
Ewen Vernal   Double Bass,Guest Artist
Duncan Lyall   Double Bass,Guest Artist
Calum MacCrimmon   Bagpipes,Vocal Harmony,Whistle (Human)
Donal Brown   Flute,Bagpipes,Whistle (Human)
Patsy Reid   Cello,Viola,Fiddle,Vocals

Technical Credits

Ian Kirkpatrick   Composer
John Morris Rankin   Composer
Matt McGinn   Composer
Tommy Peoples   Composer
Gordon Duncan   Composer
Donald MacLeod   Composer
Calum MacCrimmon   Composer,Group Member
Donal Brown   Group Member
William Lawrie   Composer
Patsy Reid   Composer,Group Member
Traditional   Composer
Dr. Angus Macdonald   Composer