EXPERIMENTAL PROG
Ambient, electronica and oddities through the monocle of Jo Kendall
The pipes – specifically bellows-blown smallpipes – are calling to Prog this issue, played by Skye native Brìghde Chaimbeul on her third album, Sunwise (tak:til/Glitterbeat). A winner of Radio 2’s Young Folk Award in 2016, the composer takes a trad form to atmospheric and ancient destinations, with reels, field recordings and Gaelic poetry added to stark drone tones, occasionally featuring her regular sparring partner, US sax don Colin Stetson. Lead-off track Dùsgadh is a solid waking drone, leading to the warm, crackling Light The Fire, the rave throb of Bog An Lochan, and a Riley-esque druid procession pulse in Duan. Enlisting her brother Eòsaph for the quickfire The Rain Is Wine And The Stones Are Cheese, their twin vocals dance with the instrument in the intricate canntaireachd (singing like the pipes) style, rounding off a potent, transportative set.