The Bagpipe Society

Review: Sudden Need by Solid Ghost

For some reason I find it particularly difficult to review this album: again and again I have tried to listen to it analytically, critically, intelligently but it’s just not happening. I get drawn into the looping melodies of the pipes, the rhythmic ringing of the harp, and find myself humming and dancing along without a thought in my head…

Border pipes and lever harp are a particularly delightful pairing. The clarity and resonance of the strings provide a clear and constant rhythmic underpinning for the continuous sound of the pipe, as well as beautiful solo moments.

Merit’s playing is energetic and unconventional - sometimes underpinning the meandering melodies rhythmically, other times providing melodic counterpoint. She also uses a device called ‘Schnarrenzug’ (literally untranslatable, but described as a ‘bray pin slider’) which allows her to produce deep growly tones that are quite un-harpish and unique to her.

Mattis is a superb bagpipe player (and maker). He plays effortlessly, changing from loose, melodic playing to rhythmic patterns punctuated occasionally with sharp pauses. I wish I could tell you how he does it. The result is a dozen tunes full of joyous energy and rich variation of textures. Highly recommended.

Some facts about the CD

Solid Ghost (not to be confused with the psychedelic rock band from Moscow, Idaho) are bagpiper Matthias Branschke and harp player Merit Zloch, and Sudden Need is their first album in this combination.

There are 12 tracks on it, with authorship evenly divided between Branschke, Zloch and gleanings from old manuscripts, but it would be a challenge to pick out the traditional tunes from the contemporary ones. If anything, the arrangements of the 18th century dance tunes are particularly - and successfully - daring.

One of the tunes, ‘Reise ins Labyrinth’, was also included on Merit’s solo album ‘Stand der Dinge’. Both versions are fabulous.

The album is available from https://deutschtradshop.de

Oh, and right at the end, it turns out that the sudden need is for blackcurrants. Of course.