TREACHEROUS ORCHESTRA
‘Origins’ (Navigator)
Mick Houghton
April 2012
8/10
Daring instrumental collective
The opening “Overture” here is pure folk prog: imagine an 11-piece ELP featuring bagpipes, whistles, flutes, fiddles, accordion, banjo, guitars, bass and drums. Taking inspiration from such Scottish folk-fusion trailblazers as Martyn Bennett and Croft No. 5, Treacherous Orchestra are a fiercely energetic Celtic take on Bellowhead but often employing thumping club rhythms or repetitive pulses (notably “Sea of Okhotsk”) reminiscent of Terry Riley. Equally adept giving traditional Scottish melodies a facelift, the epic “Easter Island” is a particularly skilful arrangement led by flute and border pipes. Impressive.