Reviews
Airdan Album: Cosmic
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: https://airdan.bandcamp.com/album/cosmic
COSMIC is the debut album from Scottish traditional music four piece Airdan. Tight, dexterous and always locked to the pulse Airdan are Paul Sinclair Fiddle and Coll Williamson Accordion with guitarist David Lennon and understated but inventive drummer Ewa Adamec providing the pulse in this instrumental music for the feet. On tracks like "Cosmic Joe" and "Lucky Dip" fiddle and accordion fly together with some lovely percussive drum and guitar florishes while the music swells and falls.
"Triple Hundred" and "Stargazers" makes great use of space around the instruments on a suspense filled arrangement. I loved the pulsing guitar, accordion and fiddle on "Stargazers" and the way the music builds behind Paul Sinclair. Similarly the growling accordion sounds that open "Gibson's Patter" and "Loopy Paddlers"before it follows the melody with the fiddle. The quartet play with precision but energy and an audible smile on the aptly named "Delighted". Listen out for some delightfully understated fills on the cymbals from Ewa. There is a tension between a slow percussive guitar strum and the visceral fiddle on the inventive bubbling "Dug's Lugs". Airdan do subtle on the achingly beautiful "Nightfires" another sensitive tune from Brother Sean Paul Wood who also also wrote "Stargazers". The instrumental features delightful fiddle melody and some restrained but fine group playing. Listen out for the incredible groove that builds on closer and band favourite "Last Drop".
A beautifully recorded set with understated production from Anna Massie, COSMIC is the sound of four musicians listening and playing together. Full of subtle touches it is a real grower on repeated listens.
Marc Higgins
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