IN THE HOME OF MY ANCESTORS

How many Australians do you know, who performed the bagpipe as one of their first instruments?Gavin O'Loghlen is the guy of our story, playing the bagpipes since his early childhood, adding to his armour the guitars, keyboards, flute and percussion over the years.Following the birth of his daughter, he started searching for his roots and discovered that members of his family had sailed from Ireland to Australia during the 19th century.His next move was to establish his own record label Locrian Records and his own group Cotters Bequest in 1996, showing his love for Celtic Music.The debut of his band comes the following year with the indicative title ''In the home of my ancestors'', featuring no less than 10 singers and musicians, with O'Loghlen handling 17 Rock and traditional instruments(!).

As expected, the music is ethereal, almost cinematic Progressive Folk with lovely Celtic soundscapes and great, dreamy arrangements, full of bagpipes, whistles and flutes, featuring a number of KATE BUSH or LOREENA MCKENNITT wannabees on vocals with Angelee Theodoros being the lead female singer.The textures are rather laid-back with nostalgic, Irish tunes, beautiful female choirs and airy acoustic parts in a very MIKE OLDFIELD way, while light doses of crystalline piano themes make the album even more atmospheric.Things do not stop here.Part of the 13 compositions feature O'Loghlen's sparkling electric guitars and smooth keyboards, much in a melodic Progressive Rock approach, adding the album some serious energy, without losing a moment its Celtic-inspired mood.Moreover O'Loghlen appears to have also an excellent voice with a somewhat Irish color and the more traditional tunes become lovely Prog Folk pieces in his hands.Violins, cello and accordions are the brightest instrumental sounds on these pleasant moves.Add a fair dose of majestic grandiosity in a pair of instrumental tracks, offering a really imaginative world, coming from the far past.

An album created with love and sincere passion, coming from O'Loghlen's respect to his roots.The result is quite satisfying, essential for fans of Celtic Folk or MIKE OLDFIELD, and of course warmly recommended.