Red Hot Chilli Pipers // Wake Me Up

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

So we all know the Avicii & Aloe Blac song Wake Me Up right? Ever think that it would work with bagpipes? Wonder no more as the Red Hot Chilli Pipers have done just that!

Yes they ‘Chillied’ the song and released it and we have to say that it feels as if the song could have been written for the bagpipes from the outset. Beginning almost like a traditional song, it’s not long before they head straight into the familiar notes and we suspect an added Chilli pipers twist on it to make it their own. There are vocals near the end of the track which are just enough. We don’t think it would have worked just as well with the vocals through the whole thing.

The guys are currently leading an assault to get bagpipes into the charts. We highly recommend a listen and even a wee sneaky purchase!

Rating: 5/5

Red Hot Chilli Pipers // Music For The Kilted Generation

Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ Amazon.co.uk
Download @ iTunes

The Bagrockers return with their third album, Music For The Kilted Generation, which once again brings the traditional and the modern together. So what have they got instore for us this time around

Long Way To The Top – If You Wanna Bagrock starts the album off as it means to go on: loud and rocking! It's quickly followed by Just For Willie, a track composed by members of the band for ex member, Willie Armstrong. Probably one of Snow Patrol's most well known tracks, Chasing Cars is given the Chilli Piper treatment and it actually isn't too bad. The arrangement works well even if it does have a little added section to it, that just adds to song making the Pipers own.

Hellbound Train starts very traditional but is soon joined by guitar and other instruments piece by piece building to the climax. The Hidden Gem is a little gem, kept a gentle pace and is a great little piece to lead into the next track, Amazing Grace, a track that once got to number one played on the bagpipes many years ago. For this version though, the Glasgow Gospel Truth Choir joins them.

Just as quickly as the pace slows, it's taken back up with Black Knight On The Crazy Train. The song they describe as you'll either love it or loathe it (due to the item that it was once used to advertise) is Low Rider, a great little track heard here and when performed live. Queen are once more given the Chilli treatment with a version of Radio GaGa.

Little Cascade has a sort of middle eastern feel to the beat and you can't help but sway along to it. The last three tracks to this album are somewhat more modern. There is a short song, Everybody Dance Now quickly followed by Robbie William's classic Let Me Entertain You. The album ends with The Who track Baba O'Riely, probably most commonly heard on CSI: New York

Overall, the album maintains what the band have been known for: mixing the traditional with the modern and bring the sound of the bagpipes to another generation. The line up might have changed slightly but the sound that the band bring hasn't. Well worth a listen if you're looking for just a tad different.

Rating:4/5

Red Hot Chilli Pipers // 100 Chilli Pipers

  
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ Amazon.co.uk
Download @ iTunes

It’s not a misprint or misspelling. They’re the group who have made bagpipes fashionable and accessable. They’ve also managed to create a brand new genre of music: Bagrock

This four track EP brings the pipers into your home as they take you from Christmas to the New Year in 4 tracks but is also a great little introduction to the guys if you haven’t heard of them.

The opening track (100 Chilli Pipers) merges traditional (100 pipers) with rock (Rocking All Over The World) and basically engulfs you into the world of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and what they do. There’s a special rendition of the Christmas track Little Drummer Boy (which was released last year as they’re attempt to get bagrock into the charts!) before ending the album with two great traditional Scottish tracks, Flower of Scotland and the Hogmany favourite Auld Lang Syne.

These guys prove that the bagpipes don’t have to be boring and don’t have to be resigned to the traditional songs heard on trips to Scotland but that they can be turned to almost any song and still make it sound great. A highly recommended release even if it’s just because you’re curious as to what’s the fuss is about them or because you want to see them take on the charts.

Rating: 4/5

Track listing:
100 Pipers
Little Drummer Boy
Flower of Scotland
Auld Lang Syne