De Ar Vro/Konogan An Habask & Bernard Bizien/Paker Production/2019

Personnel:

Bernard Bizien – Gitar, Bodhran

Konogan An Habask – Pib-ilin, fleutoù

This is a quite good recording, a sentiment that I express with a bit of surprise because Paker Production recordings have gained a bit of a reputation for being stereotypically presented with tremendous hype, and sometimes tremendous technical skill in a sense, but also dubious taste and a distinct lack of ‘staying power’ in the discerning listener’s ear. More of a bright flash-bang! listening experience where interest fades all too quickly.

This might be particularly true for An Habask’s earlier efforts, whose ‘Pevarlamm’ project is reviewed HERE.  Konogan An Habask is a hugely talented player, well known for his stint with Startijenn (which in my mind translates as ‘more energy than substance’) and various side projects. Putting this disc on, I kind of half-expected something more like Pevarlamm: an odd mix of genius and lack of self-control in various aspects.

But instead what you get is a rock-solid instrumental album of Breton music, with a lot of interesting tunes written by An Habask. 

Although he varies the menu with the addition of tin- and low-whistles, An Habask’s main instrument here is the Uilleann pipes (in Breton, ‘pib-ilin’) and it’s nice to hear this instrument playing Breton music, which hasn’t been the case except for an occasional recording from groups such as Pennou Skoulm, Ronan Le Bras, or Koun.  An Habask sometimes still strays towards a frenetic, ‘too many notes’ approach at times, although it’s much better here than previously. Track 2, a Scottish, probably portrays this proclivity the most intensely. To my relief this material is well balanced by slower  and more stately material. Of course An Habask is not alone and speaking of rock-solid, veteran guitarist Bernard Bizien, formerly of Penn Gollo, Deus’Ta, etc etc is an exemplary accompanist all the way through. His arrangements show the imagination and restraint to ground his partners sometimes hyperactive flights in solid and sometimes spare rhythmic figures.

‍ If you like Breton music, and like Uilleann pipes, this is the recording for you. It’s quite good.

-Fañch