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Rogue Jones return with new 'Englynion Angylion' single out now via Libertino Records
By Ceri Shaw, 2022-06-21
(Scroll Down For English)
Mae Englynion Angylion yn alwad ewfforig orymuso, rhyddhad a gwrthryfela. Dyma Rogue Jones yn "cysylltu â'u gwrach fewnol a chofleidio byd natur".
Dechreuodd hon, sengl gyntaf y band o’u hail halbwm, fel pennill gan Fiona Apple neu Kate Bush dan arweiniad y piano cyn cael ei drawsnewid i The Loft yn Efrog Newydd y 70au gan ysbryd David Mancuso. Fel y gerddoriaeth yr oedd Mancuso yn ei charu â’i chwarae, mae Englynion Angylion yn llawn enaid, rhythm, a geiriau sy'n llawn gobaith ac achubiaeth.
Dychwelodd Rogue Jones (Bethan Mai ac Ynyr Morgan Ifan) i’w hail gartref creadigol yn Stiwdios Tŷ Drwg i ddechrau gweithio ar Englynion Angylion gyda’r cynhyrchydd Frank Naughton. Ceir hefyd Llŷr Pari, ‘metronom Melin y Coed’, ar y drymiau a'r cymysgu, Elen Ifan ar y soddgrwth a'r ffidil disgo a gafodd eu recordio yng Nghaernarfon gan Gruff Ab Arwel.
Galwodd y Guardian Rogue Jones yn "fand swynol a hynod sy’n haeddu dilyniant cwlt". Y mae Englynion Angylion yn orlawn o swyn ac yn sicr bydd cydnabyddiaeth haeddiannol i ddilyn. Eglurai’r band, "Englynion Angylion yw ein hymgais i wneud disgo cerddorfaol o’r 1970au, ond, fel popeth arall byddwn ni'n creu, gyda naws ychydig yn rhyfedd. Pobl y wlad yn treial gwneud cerddoriaeth y ddinas" ac yn llwyddo i ddod â phalet enfys natur gyda nhw i oleuo’r strydoedd dinesig tywyllaf.
Englynion Angylion (The Poetry of Angels) is an euphoric call to arms with a message of empowerment, liberation and rebellion. It’s Rogue Jones "getting in touch with their inner witch and embracing nature”.
This, the bands first single taken from their sophomore album, started life as a Fiona Apple / Kate Bush brooding piano-led verse before being dragged to The Loft in 70s New York by the ghost of David Mancuso. Like the music that Mancuso loved and played, Englynion Angylion is ‘soulful, rhythmic and impart words of hope and redemption.'
Rogue Jones (Bethan Mai and Ynyr Morgan Ifan) returned to their second creative home of Ty Drwg Studios with longtime producer Frank Naughton to work on the foundations of Englynion Angylion. Llŷr Pari ‘The Melin y Coed Metronome’ was on drums and mixing, Elen Ifan on cello, Mari Morgan on disco violin, recorded in Caernarfon by Gruff Ab Arwel.
The Guardian called Rogue Jones "a charmingly quirky band who deserve a cult following". By the evidence of Englynion Angylion, Rogue Jones are overflowing with charm and wider recognition won’t be far behind. As the band explained, Englynion Angylion "is our attempt at making straight-up 1970s orchestral disco but like everything we do, it comes out a little stranger. Country people trying to make big city music" and succeeding in bringing nature's rainbow palette with them to lighten the darkest of urban streets.
A kitchen table
1953
its wood surface lined by
the scratching and scraping
of five thousand meals
gravitated around by people I haven’t met
save through the study of dry documents
lichen edited inscriptions
and reverential anecdotes
they’re gathering as if for an important event
in the calendar of living
I’m kind of hovering like I did in real life
trying to listen in to the language of condolence
the wording of commemoration
the patois of those well known to one another
the music of best china
touching
my 12 year old mother is here
with the other females
permitted at the house
to help with refreshments
and friendships
but not at the open grave
she will grow into a Bardot
of the school bus
the chapel pews
the perambulating lanes
the first job
until marriage and me will alter
that possibility
that destination
a member of the branch
of the suicide sister in law
is among the mourners
death grief thief of time
but healer of familial discomfort
at the chapel in the forest
among the crabbed literature of wreaths
one dedication reads
from all at Police House L-V-
32 miles and a half century away
from the great uncle of the deceased
who had ridden from those walls
to collar the lawless of his day
from the first day of that county’s constabulary
these were the days of the start
of our separation from our beginning
our unravelling
when we forgot so much
of what we were and what was us
our relatives and their dwelling places
the reason for our being
a time too when we became unfamiliar
with horses
their aroma
their voices
their muscularity
their fidelity
when we became a little less human
a little less animal
Sky Barkers is an indie trio based in coastal West Wales. It is comprised of Joanna MacGregor Messore, Dan Messore and Matt Brown. They make groove based, hook heavy, vocal laden music - lyrically connective and energy driven, rooted in song-writing but with a wonky edge. ‘Give You Love’ is the bands second offering writing as this current trio, following on from their first single ‘Beholden to None’. Expect a full EP soon, coming this Autumn.
Jo MacGregor says: “Give You Love is a celebration and rebellion song. We wrote it during one of the lockdowns and it’s really just about loving - honestly and wildly, which in the current climate seems an act of necessary rebellion. Letting love be the force that courses through you and blasts you out of apathy, fear, whatever. But we’ve got to dare to be vulnerable enough to let it in, to feel it for real - and so many of us have big old bags of pain in the way. But in those moments when we really connect and let this incredible force tingle through us - it’s pretty wild. And we need it like water.”
Eyes closed to the sound
of a breeze combing fir trees
reminds him of the curtain border
of that cemetery
hypnotic historic
ultimately soporific
a misspelt dedication
next to where he left his parents
his grandparents
the dear ones snug in the clay
returned to the earth
on the edge of that village
that gave him his scars
the shed tears
they all left only to come back
the sadness not interred
not boxed
but marks on their existence
decades of indentations
runes they couldn’t decipher
though fingertips unthinkingly
traced them in the quieter seconds
between the pressures
a new face gets a new face
that he will learn to wear with pride
his split cheek beneath a bonnet in a pram
a spider’s web of darning in skin
a stitch in time that saved him
from being bled dry like a wounded bird
in a winter whiteness impasse
and quietened his parents’ guilt
that boy from Cwmcou
with its free flowing sparkle Ceri
a branch to the Teifi tree of life
a tributary sacrifice
that took the boy from Cwmcou
but not Cwmcou from the boy
carry me away
carry me away
bring me home
I want to go home
CHROMA - SENGL DDWBL-A/DOUBLE-A SINGLE: 'WEITHIAU / CARU CYFFURIAU' - ALLAN/OUT 24.6 AR/ON LIBERTINO
By Ceri Shaw, 2022-06-08
(Scroll Down For English)
Mae ‘Weithiau’ yn gân emosiynol bwerus sydd yn rhan o seng Ddwbl-A Chroma ‘Weithiau / Caru Cyffuriau’. Dyma’r gerddorieth gyntaf ir grwp ryddhau ar ôl ymuno â’r label Libertino. Recordiwyd y canaeuon yn fyw i ddal sain amrwyd ac egniol y triawd o'r Cymoedd gan y cynhyrchydd Kris Jenkins (Cate Le Bon, SFA, Gruff Rhys).
“Mae Weithiau yn gân am orffen perthynas gyda rhywun ti’n caru a’r prosess o ddod i deall bod pethau ddim yn gweithio. Mae am rhoi dy hun gyntaf.” - Katie Hall, Chroma Mewn cyferbyniad perffaith cerddorol i felancholy diwyro ‘Weithiau’ mae ‘Caru Cyffuriau’ yn gân punk ddi-stop ‘in your face’ am fod yn dy arddegau yn y cymoedd, de Cymru.
“Mae ‘Caru Cyffuriau’ am ‘naughty’ teenagers yn y cymoedd yn mynd lan y mynydd i cymrid ‘drugs’ ac arbrofi gyda rhyw achos does dim lot I neud. Fi’n meddwl does dim digon o adnoddau i pobl ifanc mewn ardal fel y cymoedd. Mae angen mwy o adnoddau a pethau i pobl ifanc neid rhag i nhw deimlo mor ynysig. O ni moen sgweni trac pync yn y Gymraeg, sydd yn adlywychu profiad go iawn pobl heddiw.” - Katie Hall, Chroma
Y gân yr Trac yr Wythnos BBC Radio Cymru yr wythnos hon.
'Weithiau' (Sometimes) is an emotionally powerful song that is one half of Chroma's Double-A single 'Weithiau / Caru Cyffuriau'. This is the group's first release after joining the Libertino label. The songs were recorded live to capture the versatile and energetic sound of the Valleys trio by producer Kris Jenkins (Cate Le Bon, SFA, Gruff Rhys).
“‘Weithiau’ is about ending a relationship with someone that you love deeply. The process of coming to terms with the fact that the relationship doesn’t work, and putting your self first in that situation.” - Katie Hall, Chroma In perfect musical contrast to the sometimes melancholy 'Weithiau', 'Caru Cyffuriau' is a non-stop 'in your face' punk song about being a teenager in the South Wales Valleys.
“Caru Cyfffuriau is a song about being a naughty teenager in the valleys experimenting with drugs and sex because there’s not much else to do. I think there needs to be more stuff going on so young people don’t feel so isolated. We wanted to write a welsh language punk song that reflects young people's lived experience today.” - Katie Hall, Chroma
Weithiau is the BBC Radio Cymru's Track of the Week this week.
Ex-Estrons Guitarist Rhodri Daniel is 'Heddlu' and unveils new Video for pulsing new 'Locker' single
By Ceri Shaw, 2022-06-06
After finishing the band in 2019, Rhodri became aware that his hearing was severely damaged. Years of touring the live circuit had taken their toll, Rhodri ultimately being diagnosed with hearing loss, tinnitus and severe sensitivity to noise. The effects were so acute, Rhodri was unable to be in the same room as other people, leave the house or play music for almost a year.
A chance encounter with a retired record producer, who's old forgotten studio on the slopes of the Cambrian Mountains was filled with antique synthesisers, inspired Rhodri to consider music once more. Advised to get outdoors to aid recovery, he embarked on a three month hike spanning 900 miles of the entire Welsh coastline, where he conceived the new project and was inspired to write the music in his head, to be recorded upon his return. Serendipity led Rhodri back to music, and Heddlu was born. Meaning ‘Police’ in Welsh, from the words ‘peace-force’, Heddlu's music has been true to its’ name, offering a force of peace to the songwriter.
'Locker' is out on 27th May 2022 on 'Zawn Records'.
Holy Coves return with shimmering new psych pop single 'Grey' out 10th June
By Ceri Shaw, 2022-06-06
North Wales Psychedelic Indie band 'Holy Coves' are set to release their shimmering brand new single 'Grey' which will be released this Friday 10th of June via prolific North Wales Label 'Yr Wyddfa Records'.
Dropping swiftly into the slip-stream and following on from the successful 'The Hurt Within' and 'Desert Storm' singles, 'Grey' shows off Marsden's ability to write a killer pop song enhanced by Holy Coves distinct sound, and coupled with a hazy indie pop filter and flourishes of post-punk, 'Grey' is a perfect pre-summer single.
Through long time friend and Producer David Wrench, 'Holy Coves' were put in touch with Texan Producer Erik Wofford (The Black Angels / Explosions In The Sky) and have built quite a magical working relationship, one where Wofford found himself on Mixing and Mastering duties for the material and certainly contributes to their new sound.
HOLY COVES UK TOUR DATES 2022
AUGUST
19th August - The Parish, Wrexham
20th August - The Shed, Leicester
26th August - Front Room, Rhyl
SEPTEMBER
1st September - Cluny 2, Newcastle
2nd September - Jimmy's, Liverpool
9th September - Audio, Glasgow
10th September - Pressure, Kilmarnock
11th September - Bannermans, Edinburgh
15th September - The Bullingdon, Oxford
16th September - Rascals, Bangor
17th September - Queens Hall, Narberth
23rd September - Satan's Hallow, Manchester
24th September - The Brickyard, Carlisle
30th September - Boom, Leeds
OCTOBER
1st October - Salty Dog, Northwich
2nd October - Portland Arms, Cambridge
3rd November - Underworld, Camden
4th November - The Loft, Southampton
11th November - Y Llew Goch, Machynlleth
12th November - Doldrum Escape Project, Dolgellau
25th November - Clwb Ifor Back, Cardiff
26th November - Cwrw - Camarthen
DECEMBER
2nd December - Ucheldre, Holyhead
3rd December - Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda
MR BEWLAY RETURNS WITH TONGUE IN CHEEK NEW SINGLE ‘LIVE LAUGH LOVE’ UNLEASHED FRIDAY 20 MAY
By Ceri Shaw, 2022-05-17
“Bold, charismatic and a flamboyant powerhouse” Becky and the Bands
“A true pop star in the making!” Adam Walton, BBC Introducing Wales
FFO: SHAME, The Chats, FIDLAR, Bandicoot
Mr. Bewlay unleashes his brand new indie garage post-punk banger ‘Live Laugh Love’ on SWND Records on Friday 20th May via all major digital distributors and you can pre-save/pre-order HERE.
The Cardiff based musician steps out of his previous neo-glam sound with a bold new direction of frantic indie garage post-punk that refuses to take itself too seriously. Reclaiming the phrase ‘Live. Laugh. Love’ from the hallowed shelves of B&M to under the spotlights of the underground. Bewlay delivers 2 minutes 22 seconds of unashamed fun declaring his love for an older woman through some provocative lyrics. The track sees an expansion of the Mr. Bewlay character, refusing to reveal his identity to his label, furthering his reputation of being an enigma and a bombastic personality.
The song was recorded at King’s Road Studios in July 2021 with producer Sanders, Bewlay tells us, “I have to admit this song lyrically was originally written as a joke. Relying on the meme of the ‘Karen’ with their hollow tastes and tacky sentimentality. The more I tinkered with the song, the more the lyrics were not sarcastic, instead portraying a neutrality to the situation and relying on absurd imagery of middle-aged women's slogans tattooed on faces and blasting out of stereo systems. It definitely has the shock factor to it.
The track was written to be as bare bones as possible, relying on a smash and grab approach. No intro, no outro, no riffs and only a short solo to shake listeners out of their shocked silence. The trumpet solo was provided by the amazingly talented Laurence Collier of Afro Cluster fame who came down and put to audio the wailing, flamenco inspired solo!”
Whether it be Art Pop extraordinaire, Glam Rock Knight or garage post-punk slacker; Mr Bewlay has established himself as the paramount voice for the unorthodox. The Cardiff based artists’ upbringing was flamboyant with an early induction onto the stage. With amateur dramatic performances of classics like ‘West Side Story’, ‘A View From A Bridge’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, Bewlay learnt the subtle intricacies of stage performance, a skill he brings with him to this day.
Beginning his music career under the mentorship of the PRS Foundation and Arts Council Wales backed Forté Project, Bewlay has pushed himself into releasing his ‘Electric Reason’ Trilogy which saw him expand his sound with the addition of synth-heavy, funk grooves and sweet retro-inspired pop hits. In addition he has played sold out headliner shows in prestigious venues such as Porter’s (Cardiff), Queens Hall (Narbeth) and Ill Repute (Bristol). As a champion for LGBTQ activism he has also given talks and performed at Queer festivals and shows with the ‘On Your Face Collective’.
With a breadth of sound ranging from retro-spiced pop, to quiet reflective solo pieces, Bewlay’s unpredictability is also found in his music. With influence coming from artists such as David Bowie, St Vincent and Parquet Courts, Bewlay remains in a lane of his own with bombastic vocals, extravagant style and lyrics of the utmost originality. There is little in his way towards inevitable ascension.
Be it Mista, Misses, King or Queen, they all fall under Bewlay’s everything.
‘Live Laugh Love’ by Mr Bewlay is out on Friday 20 May on SWND Records and is available on all
major streaming/download providers.
LUIANNA DEBUT EP "SKIA" RELEASED TODAY /// SHARES DARKLY ANTHEMIC NEW SINGLE "HEROIN"
By Ceri Shaw, 2022-04-29
"Emotive And Powerful" - KILLING MOON
"brooding slice of atmospheric electronica oozing with sonically dark twists" - CLOUT
“Absolutely outstanding… a dawning of a significant talent.” - Adam Walton, BBC
"dark, blooding slice of ambient pop" - Fortitude Magazine
"powerfully emotive and anthemic" - Music Blog Wales
Today see's the release of Alt-pop Artist LUIANNA‘s highly anticipated debut EP 'SKIA'. Sounding akin to the likes of BANKS and The xx , LUIANNA shares new single; ‘Heroin’ a dark, blooding slice of ambient pop that packs an emotional punch. Talking about the single, LUIANNA elaborates, “this song was written about my Dad. The music was written to feel out and describe the feeling of the lyrics and the story in my life, a gentile start going into noisy chaos”. LUIANNA was born in London, brought up in South Wales and has since spent the past fifteen years between Bristol and Berlin. Her upcoming EP was recorded in The Famous Gold Watch Studio in Berlin.‘Heroin’ is taken from LUIANNA upcoming debut EP, ‘Skiá’ , due for release on 29th April 2022.
‘SKIA’ is out today
