Artist: The Rogues
Album: Roguetrip
Year produced: 2005

Track 1 on the latest effort from Celtic band The Rogues lit me up right off the bat, a powerful sound that is at once traditional and progressive and one that gets you excited to hear more.

The second track, The Warrior's Salute, has the proper amount of ceremony in the music to carry the title. The meaning in that is personal, and the pipes are played in tribute to the band's friend Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson who they lost in 2004.

Ronds is traditional dance music, with the slow beginning designed to give the dancers time to get into position. The Binou Braz (Highland Pipes) and Bombarde (feral oboe) lend a sound to the song which is different than the ones before it.

The sound changes yet again in track 4, When Diana Fell, the only track with lyrics on this CD. This song has almost a pop music feel to it, with vocal harmonies and easy melody--far simpler than the complex playing on the tracks before and after it.

Back to the Faire, track 5 gets back to the traditional feel, which continues pleasantly through more dance music on track 6, An Dro (The Turn).

Get set for some more expert pipe playing on track 7, Bagpipes on Bourbon Street, which plays with different rhythms and succeeds in keeping interest with the addition of the drums halfway through the song which keeps the momentum going.

Track 8, Conception is completely different, and has an almost funky feel to it. A modern style of playing which is fun and groovy all at the same time, totally different than anything else on the CD.

Then off to track 9 which is a free wheeling ride through different rhythms and time signatures. From one to the next, again it keeps things moving and interesting for the listener.

With track 10, Marren's Jig, it's back to the basics, simple jig music written to practice hard shoe dancing to--and you'll hear it in the music too.

More dance music follows with a hornpipe named after famous Highland dancer, Bobby Cuthbertson, which starts off with the slow whine and picks up to the poppy, energetic pace that switches to a lively jig to finish.

The final track on this CD is a gorgeous end to it all. A deep, soulful flute coos out quietly, finishing off the album.

Sometimes the fun is in knowing what is coming next, and sometimes it is in the surprise. With the Rogues, you'll not know what you are going to get, but you know it will be fine, fine music indeed.


   Buy the Album: Roguetrip

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Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com.