Morenn goes vinyl with double-LP version of CD

Maybe for the first time in about 25 years, a piping album is out on vinyl, capitalizing on the gathering trend towards the remarkable analog format that was the standard for copying recordings for almost a century.

Morenn, the well-reviewed CD by Xavier Boderiou, with Sylvain Boderiou and Jacques Pellen released in May 2014, is available in glorious vinyl for those who prefer the imperfect “warmth” of the format as they listen to the creative interpretations of piobaireachd delivered by the three Breton musicians.

The mastermind behind the project is Boderiou, one of the world’s top Highland pipers who has enjoyed success on the Scottish solo circuit and played with Grade 1 bands such as Simon Fraser University and, currently, Bagad Cap Caval. He also launched a series of pipe chanters of his own design in 2013.

About Morenn, Boderiou said, “Try to imagine King Crimson or Brian Eno traveling to the Highlands and you will get a small idea.”

Piping and pipe band recordings on vinyl have become collector’s items, with few publishers being bothered to release the old records digitally. Illegal copies of the products have emerged online, while those that have been re-released on downloading sites infrequently compensate the artists, composers or their estates.