Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Casualties of Retail is the fourth album by the Celtic rock band from Toronto, Enter the Haggis. While the CD is full of the typical Haggis fare, it is also a bit of a departure for the band. Casualties of Retail contains bluegrass and traditional Celtic tunes, but at the same time the album could be considered a rock crossover album. The album opens with an original tune by the band and is followed by two bluegrass-style tunes. The third song, "Gasoline," is where the band obtained the album's title. Guitar player Trevor Lewington wrote two of the seven original tunes on the new album. Lead singer and fiddle player Brian Buchanan wrote three. Of the five traditional tunes Brian performs the most beautiful version of "She Moved Through the Fair" I have ever heard. One listen to "Minstrel Boy" and you will never view traditional Celtic tunes the same way again. Seldom is it possible for a band to transfer the energy of a live show onto an album. Enter the Haggis has accomplished that task here. The album is a must-have for Haggis heads and Celtic rock fans alike. Even a pure-rock music fan should enjoy it. - Rambles; published 10 July 2004
One of Canada's greatest treasures and exports is the Celtic rock band Enter the Haggis. The Toronto band takes the traditional sounds of Celtic music to the next level. Armed with a classically trained fiddle player who never stops moving and can set the world on fire with his playing; and a highland piper who hails from Glasgow, members of Enter the Haggis attract a large following everywhere they go. Fiddle player Brian Buchanan and piper Craig Downie also write original material for the band. Downie's tunes tend to be light and on the comical side like a pipe playing kilt wearing Mexican or playing the pipes on Mars; while Buchanan writes haunting melodies that stay with you and go far beyond his young years. Brian may be the youngest member in the band, but he is a master of performance on stage. Electric guitar duties are handled by Trevor Lewington. At times Trevor also brings an interesting fashion statement to the band with a spider web design kilt and sandels. Nova Scotia native Mark Abraham handles bass duties for the band. A quiet one off stage, Mark knows how to lay down a rhythm once he hits the stage. And then there's Seamus Campbell who holds it all together while hiding behind his drum set. The kilt wearing boys of Enter the Haggis have shared the stage with the likes of Nickelback, Ashley MacIsaac, Natalie MacMaster, Seven Nations, and Bruce Cockburn to name just a few. The members of Enter the Haggis spend a lot of time on the road touring Canada and the eastern half of the US. The band is currently on tour promoting their newest CD "Casualties of Retail" which will be available later this month. Haggis heads can purchase CDs from Enter the Haggis at the live shows, or via the band's website at www.enterthehaggis.com. Last December the band recorded a live show for PBS. Fans should be seeing the show on the next fundraising campaign for PBS in June. Fans may contact their local PBS stations now to request the show for the June line up. - http://www.soulshine.ca/news/newsarticle.php?nid=448
Discography
Casualties of Retail
Released: 2004
Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Joao Carvalho at Umbrella Sound and Joao Carvalho Mastering
Published by Firebrand Entertainment
LIVE!
Released: 2002
Mixed and Mastered by ETH and Simon Vanderzand at The Sound Lounge
Published by ETH Productions
Aerials
Released: 2001
Produced and Mixed by ETH and Simon Vanderzand
Published by ETH Productions
Let The Wind Blow High
Released: 1998
Produced and Mixed by ETH and Daryl Smith at Chemical Sound
Mastered by Brett Zilahi at Metalworks
Published by ETH Productions
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Since its conception in 1996, Enter the Haggis (ETH) has built an international touring and recording career based on its unique approach to Celtic-based music and high-energy performances. After the success of 2002s Enter the Haggis -Live!, the group teamed up with JUNO nominated producer Joao Carvalho (Slainte Mhath, Pilate, Hawksley Workman) to record its fourth album, Casualties of Retail (2004). The result is a strong album and a sound that ETH can call their own. Working with Joao on Casualties of Retail was a great experience. says Brian Buchanan, the groups 21-year-old fiddler and vocalist. Weve created a recording that we are all immensely proud of. Casualties of Retail features the catchy bluegrass-fusion singles Another Round and Gasoline as well as driving Celtic-rock instrumentals that showcase the groups arranging and performance talent. The music is primarily a fusion of Celtic, bluegrass and rock, however, elements of Latin, blues and funk can be heard throughout. The instrumental, Congress, combines a traditional Irish reel played on electric guitar with Latin percussion as well as a section in which drum sticks are played on acoustic guitar. Whereas on our earlier records we didnt spend a long time in the studio, we recorded Casualties of Retail over two months says the groups bassist Mark Abraham, who originally got a taste of Celtic music while growing up in Cape Breton. Taking our time gave us the opportunity to experiment, getting everything exactly the way we wanted it. We also worked with some amazing guest musicians. The group is no stranger to the stage; a look at ETHs past and present tour schedule makes it clear that theyve become a big draw at U.S. and Canadian Celtic and folk festivals. We have a great time sharing our music with audiences says the bands Scottish-born bagpiper, Craig Downie, who joined the award-winning General Motors Pipe band at the age of 12. The music we play crosses so many genre lines that it appeals to a wide demographic. Its a very satisfying feeling seeing people of all ages connecting to the music we create. Besides the release of Casualties of Retail, a special on the group will begin airing on PBS affiliates throughout the U.S. and Canada beginning in June of 2004. The documentary/performance entitled Live at Lanigans Ball was produced by the New York based company Adirondack Productions and filmed at Plattsburgh, New Yorks Hartman Theatre in December of 2003. The special will be available on DVD and VHS.
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