Editorial Reviews The initial vision of Bad Haggis comes from Eric Rigler, undoubtedly the most recorded piper of all time. His credits encompass dozens of CD’s, television and film scores, from featured soloist for composer James Horner on the soundtracks of TITANIC, BRAVEHEART, THE DEVIL’S OWN, to recordings for PHIL COLLINS, ROD STEWART, BARBRA STREISAND, TRACY CHAPMAN and WHITNEY HOUSTON & MARIAH CAREY. The wildly imaginative guitar playing of Mike Hoffmann completes the second half of Bad Haggis’ signature melody sound, a hearing-is-believing sonic experience the band jokingly refer to as the bagtar (lead bagpipes/lead guitar). Mike’s credits include recordings and tours with Jazz Legends JOHN HANDY (Charlie Mingus), TONY WILLIAMS (Miles Davis), and ED MANN (Frank Zappa). In addition to the two lead instruments, much of the hybrid sound Bad Haggis has created exudes from the multi-genre styling of bassist and vocalist Mick Linden. Mick’s playing in the Celtic supergroup, SKYEDANCE (with Eric Rigler and Alasdair Fraser), has earned him the highest critical respect, much the same as it has in the African tradition with such luminaries as PRINCE EYANGO (Another Part of Me--#1 album in Africa). On the underside of things, the World Beat vibe of drummer/percussionist Bryon Holley gives a heartbeat to the animal. Bryon has worked with such artists as African bass guru ARMAND SABEL-LECCO (Paul Simon, The Brecker Bros.) and Alternative Rock icon PERRY FARRELL (Jane’s Addiction, Porno For Pyros). With musicianship such as this, it’s no surprise that Bad Haggis carves a new groove in its sonic voyage.
Music Review:
Music Review
Lutoslawski: Danse Preludes; Blake: Concerto; Seiber: Concertino
Music: Peel Session 2 [CD-single]
About the Artist
Bad Haggis delivers some truly incredible sonorities, fusing the most cutting-edge of Celtic with vocal and instrumental soundscapes, often-transcending stylistic boundaries. The band’s unique sound stems from its unusual mixture of instrumentation: Irish uilleann pipes, highland bagpipes, whistles, acoustic & electric guitar, bass, drums & percussion. Always taking a different path than one might expect, Bad Haggis has created its own vocabulary and new hybrid of sound.
Album Description
TRIP – the band’s third CD release – combines pop sensibilities ("Water Church") with Alternative rockers ("Bad Haggis") and a wall-of-bagpipe-and-guitar sound ("The B-52" and "Rip Hop"). With a nod to piper Eric Rigler's traditional Celtic music heritage, the band puts a spin on several Irish jigs and reels like only BAD HAGGIS can – as one reviewer called "Afri-Celt rhythmic boogaloo" ("The Hag at the Churn", "Reels Part One" & "Reels Part Two"). Rounding out their cross-cultural journeys, the Irish-styled jig of "Monkey Tree" steps directly into West Africa while "Little Spark" takes a more urban turn. Finally, the band re-visits one of the themes that Eric performed on the TITANIC original motion picture soundtrack, "Hymn to the Sea".