Breabach
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Breabach

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"various reviews"

REVIEWS:

Debbie Koristas (Living Tradition)

What a debut! ‘The Big Spree’ is a swirling collection of stirring tunes and top notch songs, and the powerhouse instrumentals are a testament to youthful exuberance, burgeoning talent and a total joy to listen to. The recollection of this band’s superb Celtic Connections set is literally ringing in my ears as I listen to this album. Breabach is a four-piece band that has attracted the eyes and ears of festival organisers, winning themselves a coveted slot at Cambridge Folk Festival this year. Readers who’ve heard this band play live will know exactly why, because they hurl their tunes at you with such attack that you need to be ready to steel yourself against their onslaught. Donal Brown & Calum MacCrimmon between them play Highland bagpipes, flutes and whistles, Patsy Reid plays fiddle, viola and cello, and Ewan Robertson is guitarist, lead vocalist, and what a rich and commanding voice he has. Patsy too has a lovely, listenable voice, evidenced by her fine interpretation of ‘Lochaber No More.’ Duncan Lyall and Ewen Vernal guest on double bass on various tracks, adding considerable depth to the music.

Calum and Patsy contribute some cracking tunes themselves, and these are joined by further riches; the outstanding ‘Davy Webster’s’ by the late Gordon Duncan – a magnificent and celebratory tribute to this great piper. There are reels, strathspeys and jigs by Angus MacDonald, Adam Sutherland, Donald MacLeod, Neil Gow and other fine composers. Well known traditional tunes sit snugly in the mix too, including ‘The Snuff Wife’, ‘George White’s Favourite’, ‘Brose and Butter’ and ‘Bonnie Isle O’Whalsay.’ Though the pace of the music slows down occasionally, overall it’s a huge sound, bursting with energy, and there will be few who can sit still when listening to these brilliant tunes, brilliantly played.

An outstanding first album from a fantastic young band. More power to their elbow for getting it so right so early on in their careers!

***

Hot Press Review - Vol 31

The three melody players in this young Scottish quartet play several different instruments apiece - something that makes for a nice variety of sounds and arrangements on their debut album. Highland pipers Donal Brown and Calum MacCrimmon both play whistle as well, with Brown also manning a mean flute and MacCrimmon contributing harmony vocals; lead vocalist duties are shared by fiddler Patsy Reid; who also plays violin and cello, and guitarist Ewan Robertson. Both are fine strong singers, and the musicianship throughout is excellent - particularly when Reid does a powerful solo fiddle turn on a set of five tunes, the first of which she composed herself. Nevertheless one gets the feeling that this is still a band trying to find its true voice. I'm looking forward to hearing more from them.

Sarah MccQuaid 7/10

***

Scotland on Sunday 15th July 2007

BREABACH ***

The Big Spree
Vertical Records Vertcd081, £13.99

This is the first album by the young quartet sporting twin bagpipes upfront of the fiddle, flute, whistle and guitar. Their obvious playing skills, and an essentially Scottish traditional repertoire, make for interesting listening, while piper Calum MacCrimmon (and you can't have a better surname if you play the big pipes) adds a couple of his own compositions. Their vocal abilities are limited, but it's the high-energy instrumental attack that excites.

NORMAN CHALMERS

***

This is indeed a sparkling debut. Breabach romp effortlessly through the Scots and Irish repertoire: Davy Webster's, George White's Favourite, Green Fields of Glentown, Hull's Reel and many more are putty in the hands of Patsy Reid and Calum MacCrimmon, on fiddle and big pipes respectively. The flute of Donal Brown lacks snap on the strathspeys and reels, but it's breathtaking on slower tunes: Hector the Hero is mournful and moving, quite different from the Wolfstone and Bothy Band interpretations. The flute break in The Rolling Hills is beautifully controlled, while singer Ewan Robertson makes a lovely job of this Matt McGinn song. I'm less convinced by Patsy's vocals on Lochaber No More. Breabach is basically an instrumental band with the occasional song, and I hope they'll have the strength to stay that way.

Ewan is joined in the backline by a guest bassist on six tracks, but otherwise The Big Spree is a pure foursome achievement and is all the more impressive for that. The Breabach sound is big and bold on Chloe's Passion and the final Caber Feidh set, with gentler moments on Cockerel in the Creel and Patsy's solo medley James Gunn Henderson. The band also has a few own compositions here: a charming lyrical march by Patsy, and Calum contributes the 10/8 monster The Full Booner and the outstanding reel Under the Influence.

A most enjoyable album, The Big Spree is one of this year's highlights. Get yourself a copy (try www.verticalrecords.co.uk), or listen online at www. - various publishers


Discography

The Big Spree (debut album)
Tradtunes.com had us in their top 5 downloads last month
We are played regularly on BBC Radio Scotland (Travelling Folk, Reel Blend, Pipeline)
We were in the top 20 tracks on CKUA's Celtic Pipeline last year (Canada)

Photos

Bio

Breabach are the one of the most talked about acts on the Scottish folk scene. Their innovative celtic style, blending double bagpipes, whistle, fiddle, song and Scottish stepdance, brings to the stage, flare, excitement and diversity rarely seen from such a young group. Enviable musicianship coupled with a delightful ability to connect with their audience has gained Breabach international recognition as one of Scotland’s leading new acts.

Breabach were nominated for ‘Best Up and Coming Act’ in 2006 and most recently for ‘Best Folk Band’ at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2007. 2007 also saw the release of their debut album ‘The Big Spree’ under Vertical records and a hugely successful ‘Tune-up’ Tour throughout October.
Band member Ewan Robertson was crowned BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year in January 2008 and the band are looking forward to another busy year, making music.
"…stirring tunes and top notch songs…there will be few who can sit still when listening to these brilliant tunes, brilliantly played.” (Debbie Koritsas, Living Tradition)