Auļi, a Latvian ensemble that perform music using just bagpipes and drums, has released its third album, Etnotranss, on the Lauska label. The compact disc contains 12 instrumental works.

Formed in 2003, the group released its first album Sendzirdēju in 2005, followed by Auļos… in 2007. Though the group’s sound has links to Latvian folklore, it also has elements of rock, metal, ethnotrance, ancient music and world music.

The ensemble has worked with Latvian composer Juris Kulakovs on his cantata “Vēstules uz bruģa.” The ensemble also was invited to perform at the opening of the choir concert as part of the 2008 Latvian Song and Dance Festival. It has performed not just in all corners of Latvia, but at festivals at Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and even in Beijing, China.

Bagpipes in the ensemble are performed by Kaspars Bārbals, Leanne Barbo, Gatis Indrēvics, Māris Jēkabsons, Edgars Kārklis and Normunds Vaivads. Drummers include Mikus Čavarts, Edgars Krūmiņš and Kaspars Indrēvics. The bagpipes and drums are supplemented by the trough fiddle (ģīga) played by Gatis Valters.

The CD also features essays in Latvian (with English translation) on each of the songs by Latvian writer Laima Muktupāvela, who some may know from her book, Brālibrāli, about the distinguished twin Latvian choir conductors Gido and Imants Kokars.

Auļi will play as part of the dance performance “No zobena saule lēca” at the Ķīpsala Hall in Rīga from Nov. 18-20. The event will feature more than 1,000 performers.

The album features the following songs:

1. Diņķis
2. Ozols
3. Dieva dēli
4. Zemzeme
5. Karotājs
6. Krustukursti
7. Naidnieks
8. Dzīvais ūdens
9. Senā zeme
10. Tāltālu
11. Brammanis
12. Austras koks

For more information on the band, visit www.auli.lv.