Scottish folk band Breabach have announced the release of their fifth studio album, Astar. The album was inspired by the many beautiful places and people from around the world that they have met on their extensive travels since the release of Ùlar in 2013. Astar will be released March 11, 2016, you can listen to the final track of the album titled The Last March below which is also our Tune of the Day. The tune is played in tribute to Cape Breton fiddler and composer John Morris Rankin who sadly lost his life in a tragic car accident in 2000. This is thought to be one of his final compositions.
Produced by Greg Lawson the band explain in their press release how they have taken melodic, rhythmic and harmonic ideas from five different cultures and merged them with their sound. “Some of this is woven into the arrangement, some of this is achieved through self-penned works. We’re really excited to feature some special guests on the recording…”
Guests include Yidaki player Mark Atkins (AUS), the extraordinary Aboriginal artist Yirrmal Marika of The Black Arm Band (AUS), Maori tradition bearer Scott Morrison (NZ), Quebecois violinist Olivier Demers and the members of Le Vent Du Nord (Quebec) and Hardanger virtuoso Olav Luksengård Mjelva of Nordic Fiddlers Bloc & Sver (NO).
You can pre-order Astar via Bandcamp which include a number of packages as well as an instant download of the above track.