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New CD Album from The Whistlebinkies

12 April 2006

Albannach

THE WHISTLEBINKIES

April sees the release of the new album by The Whistlebinkies: Albannach. More information here.

The Whistlebinkies’ approach to playing Scottish traditional music without recourse to gimmicks or the wiles of fashion has served them well and their clear melodic presentation continues on this latest album. The now eight-piece group’s loyalty to the traditional instrumental line-up doesn’t stop them importing from other cultures, however, as the Catalan air Muntanyes de Canigo illustrates. ... Eddie McGuire’s multifaceted The Albannach and Rab Wallace’s haunting marching Coronach are fine examples of using the tools of the tradition to create vivid, original music.

Rob Adams, The Herald, April 2006

the cover of the album Albannach the whistlebinkies

The Albannach

"In the face of pan-celtic homogenisation, the Whistlebinkies have steered a proud and true course. Based around a core of traditional Scottish instruments: pipes, flute, fiddle and clarsach they have much in common with their Irish counterparts The Chieftains. As soon as you hear their first notes they sound instantly Scottish - in the same way that the Chieftains for many are the epitome of the Irish sound. Like them, they use no instrumental gimmicks - no electronics, no guitars driving the rhythm section - and rely on both the quality of the music and their own superb musicianship to produce the desired results."

Paul Burgess, Living Tradition, May 2006