In the last two years, Brìghde Chaimbeul has transformed from a promising young piper known only in folk circles to a worldwide phenomenon making bagpipes cool, all thanks to her excellent second album, Carry Them with Us. Featuring appearances from saxophone giant Colin Stetson, along with timeless melodies, drones, and occasional vocals in her native Scottish Gaelic, Carry Them with Us ended up on various end-of-year lists in 2023.
After two years of tireless touring, Chaimbeul is back with Sunwise, an album steeped in the short days and rituals of winter. It follows the course of the season, from the first long nights in “Dùsgadh/Waking” and “A Chailleach” to the darkest day of the year in “The Rain Is Wine and…