Heads Up

Heads Up is the third and newest release from the American bagpipe rock quartet Prydein. Due to the success of their second album 'Loud Pipes (save lives)' they had plenty of support and time to spend in the studio getting Heads Up just right. This album marks the first time that the boys went into the studio without a plan, instead letting inspiration and dumb luck play a heavy role in the process. The result? The guitars rock harder, the pipes soar and the arrangements take the listener from hard-edged rock to folk, metal, funk and blues. Best friends, Aron Garceau (guitars and vox) and Iain MacHarg (bagpipes and pennywhistle), are responsible for the new interpretations of ancient and sacred Celtic tunes. Their mix of traditional tunes and original tunes with new arrangements make what's old sound new and what's new sound old. Strongly influenced by musicians from Jimmy Page and Gordon Duncan to Jethro Tull and Na Cabarfeidh (Rare Air), Heads Up is like taking a journey on Route 66 stopping in all of the 7 Celtic Nations. There's your standard Irish drinking song, Whisky You're the Devil, and the 80's cover, Centerfold, continuing a tradition set forth on the last album. There's the harder edged instrumentals of Devil's in the Kitchen, the Drunken Piper, the Big Apple Heist and 1/4 Short, the rock/blues in Thyme Changes, and the more funk driven Feelin' Alright. Of course the boys get back to their roots with the more acoustic and upbeat Horny-pipes and Breton Tunes. Anyone new to Celtic music is going to love this album and anyone well versed in Celtic music will love how the boys have reinterpreted well-known traditional tunes while still showing great respect for their perfection. You cannot sit still listening to this album. Eventually you'll hear what they've been saying all along: Celtic music rocks!