Dermaptera’s third album, recorded in 2004, delves into dense fields of electronic experimentation. This album is the most ambient that the band has yet produced. The stillness and slow movement of many of the pieces brings to mind the long winter rest that eventually changes to the movements of spring. Imbolc is the third album in our four CD celebration of the seasons of the year. February 1st is usually when Imbolc is celebrated, so the album is reminiscent of the turning of the dead of winter into the beginning of spring. Kathy McMenamin and Kevin Hassett are Dermaptera. A husband and wife duo, we have been making music together since the turn of the millennium. Kevin has been playing bass since the early eighties, and has perfected his individual style of playing multiple string chords on the bass. His bass style also usually includes multiple effects processors. Kathy plays the synthesizer, and adds signal processed vocals to some songs. Her background includes a decade of training and performing for voice and piano, but she had been away from making music for several years before Kevin convinced her to start up again. Other instruments that have been known to make surprise appearances on Dermaptera albums include mountain dulcimer, autoharp, hand drums, and an earth plate, so keep your ears open for surprises. You hear a soft voice in your ear just before you fall asleep. You barely hear what it says, but it tells you to buy this album now.