Fish Records - BREABACH - THE DESPERATE BATTLE OF THE BIRDS

Full Review

Breabach – The Desperate Battle of the Birds

Over the past 3 years Breabach have built up a formidable reputation as being one of the very finest Scottish bands on the live circuit – their mixture of tunes and songs with both male and female vocals give them a variety that sets them apart from the crowd. Their first album was critically well received, but this album is an altogether different affair that, like Lau before them, will bring them to a market outside of the traditional Scottish scene.
The make-up of the band is based around twin pipes, fiddle, guitar and whistles, but the approach to both traditional and modern pieces is breathtaking at times – the quartet are all accomplished musicians but rather than an exercise in technical ability, the music comes first it’s easy to pick out the layers, melodies and themes that run throughout the album.
This approach works especially well on the songs where vocals are shared out between Patsy and Ewan with two songs each; and the accompaniment is beautifully subdued and subtle allowing the lyrics to shine through.
These quiet and gentle songs are in contrast to the upbeat tunes, which mix traditional and modern pieces. This is best summed up in the title track, the tune itself is a piobaireachd (the oldest form of Scots pipe music) from the 14^th century but its put together with a pair of powerful contemporary jigs that show the bands’ creativity.
Those who think that traditional Celtic music may not be for them will well be surprised with what Breabach have to offer – they’re equally as accessible as Lau, but the extra instrumentation and wider range of band members make for a more interesting and varied sound. One of the best traditional albums of the year – very highly recommended.