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Casualties of Retail
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Casualties of Retail Enter the Haggis
A fresh, genre-bending fusion of Celtic and rock, with elements of bluegrass, Latin and funk. Enhanced CD features video and photos! Enter The Haggis offers an effortless and spirited mix of musical styles, on Casualties Of Retail, their fourth album, produced by Joao Carvalho (Slainte Mhath, Pilate, Hawksley Workman)-- from traditional Irish folk and reels, complete with Brian Buchanan's blistering fiddle playing, to Americana-style hootenanny to, dare we say it, hip hop. True, they've written some undeniably fantastic songs here, but Enter The Haggis' greatest achievement is arguably making this diverse mash-up sound completely cohesive and au natural. Casualities Of Retail opens up with an unrelenting and hypnotic reel called 'Music Box'? propelled with a smart syncopated rhythm section, (deftly performed by the aforementioned Abraham and James Campbell on the bass and drums, respectively), and dissonant, yet effective electric guitar, (played by Trevor Lewington), not to mention Craig Downie's highland bagpipes (he also plays the Deger pipes, tin whistle, jaw harp and harmonica- sings, too), thus setting the tone for the whole freakin' rave up. 'Another Round'? is a bonafide Whiskey Drinkin' Tune landing somewhere between The Count Bishops' cult classic 'Train, Train'? and the Charlie Daniels Band. 'Congress'? is an instrumental of recognizable reel styling, but comes out of the gate executed, not on the traditional fiddle, but on guitar! The whole thing eventually breaks down to near-abandonment of the initial genre setting until it sounds like something perpetrated by The Buena Vista Social Club before snapping back to an all-out Celtic folk jam. 'Minstrel Boy'? is like the best shit off Elvis Costello's This Year's Model and the Pogues' Peace And Love, then 'Moved Through The Fair'? is a classic and poignant love song ambling between the sheets with Nick Drake, Paul Simon and Cliff Richard, if that's possible. And on it goes; Big, Bright Pop Rock/Celtic loops/fiendish promenades/hi-speed funk and blues/traditional Irish folk; something for everyone with any soul played with boundless heart on everything ETH could possibly get their hands on. You'd be dead not to like this. |
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