Breabach celebrate the natural world in new album Fàs out today

Acclaimed contemporary Scottish folk band Breabach are back with their first full-length album in four years.

Fàs – a Gaelic word meaning ‘growth’, ‘developing’ and ‘sprouting’ – was released earlier today and fans in the region will be amongst the first to hear the new tracks performed live when the group plays at Inverness' Eden Court this evening.

The new work is heavily inspired by the natural environment of Scotland and sees the band showcase more progressive elements in their play than ever before.

The protection, conservation and regeneration of the natural world influenced every part of the album-making process from song composition and sourcing material to the recording process and album production.

The first single Eadar an Dà Bhràigh celebrated the natural diversity and significance of the Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, west of Laggan.

It was followed by the release of the title track Fàs earlier this month.

Elsewhere, Revolutions looks at renewable energy and Changing World explores how nature flourished when the human world slowed down during the Covid lockdowns.

The album retains the familiar sound Breabach are known and loved for, while incorporating new layers and textures to their sound.

The majority of tracks are self-composed, taking influence from traditional and contemporary compositions from Scotland and Cape Breton – now fused with an avant-garde edge.

Fàs is Breabach’s first album to feature newest member Conal McDonagh, who appears on Highland pipes, vocals, whistles, and in a new sound for the band, the Uilleann pipes.

Conal joins Megan Henderson (fiddle, vocals), James Lindsay (double bass, Moog, vocals), Calum MacCrimmon (Highland bagpipe, whistle, bouzouki, vocals), and Ewan Robertson (acoustic & electric guitar, vocals).

Fàs also features special guests Keir Long on synthesiser and Inge Thomson on additional programming, percussion and kalimba.

Calum MacCrimmon, of Breabach, said: “Fàs is much more song-based than our previous albums and is deeply rooted in nature.

"It features original instrumental compositions from each band member inspired by global climate-action youth movements, seed-vaults, figures close to the band and places close to our hearts.

“Working in isolation at home over the last few years gave us a lot of time and freedom to be creative, and I feel that really comes across on this album.

"We looked at pulling out different sounds from our instruments and voices on this one.

"We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out - you’ll still know it's a Breabach album but it’s definitely a new sound for us.”

The band began putting material together for the album during a workshopping week in Glasgow’s Hidden Lane in Autumn last year.

It was recorded, engineered and mixed by Iain Hutchison at GloWorm Recording Studios in Glasgow.

The album was mastered by Peter Beckmann and produced by esteemed musician and producer Inge Thomson.

Fàs is now available to buy on eco-digipack CD and LP, and to stream and download on all major digital platforms.

The band will be celebrating the release of Fàs later by hosting a special album launch party at Eden Court in Inverness.

Breabach have been touring their new album this autumn with 14 dates taking in venues from Edinburgh to Colchester.

The band's 17 year adventure has included live performances from Sydney Opera House to Central Park in New York.

They have racked up an impressive array of accolades including five Scots Trad Music Awards, nominations as ‘Best Group’ in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and ‘European Album of the Year’ in The Songlines Music Awards.

Tickets for all dates are available through Breabach’s website.

Track listings 1. The Old Collection; 2. Revolutions; 3. Eadar an Dà Bhràigh; 4. Brog To The Future; 5. Fàil ì, Fàil ó; 6. Fàs; 7. Lochanside; 8. Dear Green; 9. John Mackenzie’s March & 10. Changing World.

Other live dates: October 15th – Letham Village Hall, Letham; December 1/2nd – Glassel Village Hall, Glassel; December 3rd – Queens Hall, Edinburgh

Buy tickets for the Eden Court performance here

Find out more about the band here

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