Unthinkable

Released: 2004

Tartanic marries music from two of the most prominent folk traditions in Western Europe—Scotland and Brittany—and sets it to world drumming. While staying true to our roots in the Highland bagpipe tradition, with the inclusion of traditional competition sets, we add some progressive hits that'll have you dancing in your seats.

The meat of the album, however, is the sampling of Breton dance tunes. A stylized and lazy An Dro set sends us to Brittany, and the lively Ronde and fast-paced Plinn melodies get you moving. It's hard to miss the contribution of the bombard, an ancient instument native to Brittany, in theese sets.

Blending these noted musical traditions in a singular style demands equally innovative percussion. A driving bass from the bodhran complements the unyielding pulses of the doumbek. This combination of multiple styles results in rhythms any dancer is sure to find a groove in, regardless of dancing tradition.

The past is present, new is old. While some keep ancient and modern squarely in their places, to us, this is unthinkable.