Discover

Bagpipes are among the least sexy, fashionable or popular instruments on the planet – they’re a notch below the harmonica, one or two above the triangle. In Scotland they scream tourism, and even in Galicia, where Carlos Nunez comes from, they represent a fringe Celtic folk scene of specious origin. And yet, this Vigo-born virtuoso speaks seductively to us through his gaita – as bagpipes are called in his homeland – pouring forth a mix of joy and sorrow, light and dark. The sweetness has its risks, with some songs veering towards ‘Theme from Titanic’ territory. But the energy is undeniable and the martial songs will sweep even staunch pipe-haters along. The stellar collaborators on this introductory album include Jackson Browne, The Chieftains, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt and Sinead O’Connor, underscoring both the fact that this piper has many talented admirers and the fact that pipers need collaborators. But there is deep beauty here, and a seriousness behind the eclecticism and the brio. A fair test of a folk musician is his or her capacity to take a niche instrument into the mainstream without sacrificing his gifts. Carlos Nunez passed that test years ago and Discover is a very welcome release on these shores.