Ali Levack - Ali Levack

After the rapturous response received by his solo EPs and work with trio Project SMOK, virtuoso whistles and highland pipes player Ali Levack releases his highly anticipated eponymous solo full-length album. A collection of ten tracks made up of self-penned tunes, some of which were written under commission, it’s recorded with a stellar line up including pianist Rory Matheson, guitarist Pablo Lafuente, and fiddler Graham MacKenzie.

The work opens with West Coast Superstars, a medley of two tunes, the first slower and accompanied by sparse keyboard bars, the second fast-paced, and the only track featuring pipes. This latter detail does not mean that the album is merely a whistles monologue, as every single piece here is dressed up in thoroughly designed and often bold arrangements, extolling the incredible array of instrumental talent of the ensemble, and featuring elements of rock, jazz, and funk.

The best example of this are the intrepid Clashnarrow, the foot-tapping NC Reel, and especially the groovy Gudgie Funk, featuring high-octane bass and guitar lines and a notable contribution by the brass section. The release doesn’t lack more calm and meditative passages however: among them the cinematic Marrell, and the romantic Dolina.

At times almost vocal, at others infectious, but always catchy and expressive, Levack’s whistle playing shines in every setting, both on keyboard-driven acid jazz substrates and in energetic arrangements. This will surely be an album that will upset the purists, but also a work that showcases the versatility of a young, but already well-rounded artist.

With this album, Levack is not treating folk music as a collection of museum pieces, but actually breaking the glass cases around them, and he is doing it in great style.