Tairm

Gaelic electronica duo Whyte return with the follow-up to their wellreceived debut, Fairich, this time adding cello, double bass, percussion, guitar and a trio of vocalists alongside Alasdair C Whyte's characteristically downbeat and distinctive singing, and Ross Whyte's keys.

Of the 13 tracks, seven are new Gaelic songs by the Whytes (who come from opposite Scottish coasts and are unrelated), four are new arrangements of traditional songs, including the suitably windswept lament, ‘Ailein Duinn’ and two add effective use of spoken text to instrumental textures. Creating moods and adding a variety of tones to his namesake's singing are Ross Whyte's strengths and as well as the industrial beats that make ‘Casag’ a waulking song for the 21st century and the insistent mysteriousness he lends to ‘Clìodhna’, he brings a more ambling gait to ‘A’ Chailleach' and a light poppy groove to ‘Fidir’. The songs look outward as much as celebrating Gaelic life and lore. ‘Canto’ mixes Gaelic with Polari and other cant languages and there are touches of chanson, Satie and maybe even Kate Bush to ‘Mùthadh’.