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My plan is to curate a documentary covering the electronic music scene in Wales during the 1980’s and 1990’s. The aim is to focus on contextualising the era in relation to the music coming out during the period and to understand the how, when and why of it all. By extension, we hope to explore the identity held by the people of Wales during the 1980/1990’s all the way through to today’s notions.
Having played some of the music out in Bristol, and knowing that many of the global underground DJ’s have recently taken an interest in our bit of the world I wanted to give the music and the people behind it their deserved screen time. I also want to look at the way it's being perceived today by listeners outside of Wales, and to better understand this search for ‘the exotic’ in the underground music scene today.
However, to make this the best documentary it possibly can be we need the stories of those who were there to experience it all. This goes full circle, from artist to label to booker to listener. We need to hear the stories from everyone involved at the time. In addition, we are desperately trying to get hold of the vinyl / cassettes / CD’s from the era for use in the documentary. So if you or anyone you know might have some of the listed releases please get in contact.
Here's the list of relevant releases for people to look through: Cerddoriaeth Electronig Cymraeg
Please contact kiernanabb@gmail.com
A multi-dimensional sound that traipses across hitherto unexplored regions of sound - Clash
HMS Morris’ knowledge and creativity within the electronic-psych genre is expansive and satisfying - Jill Goyeau, Get In Her Ears
Hot on the heels of the well-received Babanod, released in early February, HMS Morris are now pleased to present Poetry. It’s the second in a series of singles due for release in 2020, and will be available from April 1st on Bubblewrap Records.
The song reflects the sliding scale of madness that results from unreciprocated obsessive love. Beginning with some light-hearted hypothetical quasi-stalking, singer Heledd Watkins then moves through self-criticism, recrimination, and finally a full-on banshee-wail of desperation. Structurally the music is indebted to Ravel’s Bolero, a repeating ostinato rising steadily from very quiet to very loud – although in Poetry, HMS cover twice the volume in half the time, in acknowledgement of the limited attention span of the snapchat generation.
Poetry will be available digitally from all the usual platforms.
Ani Glass releases debut album 'MIRORES' this week! "A triumph from one of the leading figures in the Welsh language music boom"
By Ceri Shaw, 2020-03-05
Ani Glass Releases Debut Album MIRORES on 6th March 2020 via Recordiau Neb
In 2020, Ani Glass 's debut album MIRORES finally sees the light of day. The follow up to her debut EP FFRWYDRAD TAWEL (2017, Recordiau Neb) is the culmination of over four years developing her own sound and visionary artistry. With its tapestry of electronic sounds, elliptical melodies and samples threaded into a song cycle, MIRORES is based around the idea of movement and progress - one which takes us on a journey around her hometown of Cardiff. You can hear Ani’s recorded sounds of the urban landscape throughout; the movement of traffic and people and the magical yet infrequent sounds of nature coming together to create the score of a city’s symphony.
The title is taken from Ani’s bardic name - created when she joined the Cornish Gorsedh in 2013. The Gorsedh itself is a celebration of the Celtic spirit of Cornwall and Bardship is awarded to people who contribute to its cultural and linguistic heritage. MIRORES delves into the wider impacts of urbanisation and development and touches on ideas around culture and identity - themes that came to the fore whilst she studied for a Masters in Urban and Regional Development at Cardiff University in 2018 and continues to explore through her Doctorate. The songs are a reflection of the language and landscape of Cardiff but also represent a reaction to the values of capitalism and development which often prioritise the wants and needs of society’s most fortunate.
MIRORES also represents Ani’s first foray into production. Having been inspired by her experience of working with Martin Rushent during her time as member of indie pop group The Pipettes , Glass has spent the past few years teaching herself the art of recording and production.
‘Before starting this project, I had little to no experience of making or producing electronic music - even the simple task of connecting the machines seemed pretty arduous at first’ remembers Glass, who has struck a singular and independent path as an artist. ‘From the offset I felt empowered by the freedom and democracy of producing and performing electronic music - it opened doors to a world of possibilities and allowed me to develop my own soundscape as a solo artist.’
Glass' sound is inspired by many leading electronic and avant-garde artists and producers of the 1980s including Martin Rushent, Giorgio Moroder, Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre and Arthur Russell whilst the album’s wider themes are inspired in part by the works of abstract painter Agnes Martin and the author and activist Jane Jacobs. Despite some of the album’s heavier themes, Ani maintains a strong pop sensibility throughout, most certainly cemented during her time as member of R&B pop group Genie Queen – managed by OMD ’s Andy McCluskey. As well as the album’s title track, the album contains ten peerless tracks including the haunting and atmospheric ‘Cariad’ (Love) featuring renowned Welsh artist Ivor Davies and 2018 single 'Peirianwaith Perffaith' (Perfect Machinery) that possesses a knowing pop universality - the soundtrack to life in the city’s engine room.
The ‘Mirores’ single is available to stream HERE
The MIRORES album will be available digitally and on a limited-edition CD.
Following a year of touring and playing at festivals across the UK and beyond including Sound City, Future Yard, Greenman, Sŵn, Focus Wales and POP Montreal (as part of the FOCUS Wales delegation with the support of PRSF and WAI) as well as supporting acts such as Audiobooks and Stealing Sheep , Ani will be returning to her hometown of Cardiff and to towns across Wales for a series of very special performances.
Ani Glass MIRORES 2020 tour dates:
6th March - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
7th March - Pontio, Bangor
13th March - In-store at Spillers, Cardiff
14th March - Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham
21st March - In-store at Tangled Parrot, Carmarthen
Follow Ani Glass:
BBC Horizons Artist TJ Roberts to release new single 'True Secret To A Happy Life' On Libertino 28/02
By Ceri Shaw, 2020-03-01
TJ Roberts are a rock band on the rise. Emerging from the ever expanding and exciting South Wales music scene, Tom, Heather, Gavin and Jasper embark on a sonic voyage pushing rock-infused indiecana to its limits. Consummate entertainers live, the band have a kaleidoscope of influences evoking the earworm melodies of Big Star, mid-west charm of Twin Peaks and Wilco and the beautiful droll of the late-great David Berman (Silver Jews, Purple Mountains) TJ Roberts are set to release a string of singles and a sophomore album during 2020, as members of the Libertino Records family.
‘True Secret to a Happy Life’ is the first release from this new collection of songs and is at once a backlash against and an admittance of defeat to rising social pressure and expectation. Written in a transition period, both for the band and the country at large, its lyrics are an exercise in mindful rebellion and self-care. It is an acknowledgement that we all fall short sometimes and misread help for hate. Recorded at the end of 2020, this is a song undoubtedly of its time and place.
Mae TJ Roberts yn fand roc sydd ar gynnydd. Daw Tom, Heather, Gavin a Jasper o'r sîn gerddorol yn Ne Cymru ac maent yn gwthio eu cerddoriaeth indicanna i'r eithaf. Mae'r perfformwyr gwych wedi'u dylanwadu yn drwm gan felodïau bachog Big Star, swyn gorllewinol Americanaidd Twin Peaks, Wilco a drôl y diweddar David Berman (Silver Jews, Purple Mountains). Bydd TJ Roberts yn rhyddhau casgliad o senglau ynghyd ag albym ar ddiwedd 2020 fel aelodau o deulu Recordiau Libertino.
'True Secret to a Happy Life' yw'r sengl gyntaf o'i gasgliad sy'n esbonio'r pwysau cymdeithasol cynyddol sydd ar bobl. Wedi'i ysgrifennu mewn cyfnod o newid i'r band ac i'r wlad yn gyffredinol, mae geiriau'r sengl hon yn gweld y band yn rebelio'n feddylgar ac yn rhoi cyfle am gyfnod o hunan-garu. Mae'r gân yn gydnabyddiaeth ein bod fel pobl yn gallu methu ac yn gallu camddarllen cymorth a chefnogaeth fel casineb. Wedi'i recordio ar ddiwedd 2020, mae hon yn gân heb os o'i gyfnod a'i leoliad.
TJ ROBERTS ONLINE LINKS:
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.
INSTAGRAM: https://www.
READ ABOUT ROUGH TRADE LONDON SHOWCASE FOR BBC HORIZONS
https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/
LIVE DATES
Monday 2nd March - Rough Trade East, London
Ani Glass Releases New Single ‘Mirores’ on 17th January 2020 - Debut album released on 6th March 2020!
By Ceri Shaw, 2020-01-17
Ani Glass Releases Debut Album MIRORES on 6th March 2020 via Recordiau Neb
On 6th March 2020, Ani Glass's debut album MIRORES finally sees the light of day; the culmination of four years developing her own sound and visionary artistry. With its tapestry of electronic sounds, elliptical melodies and samples threaded into a song cycle, MIRORES is based around the idea of movement and progress - one which takes us on a journey around her hometown of Cardiff. The title is taken from Ani’s bardic name - created when she joined the Cornish Gorsedh in 2013. The Gorsedh itself is a celebration of the Celtic spirit of Cornwall and Bardship is awarded to people who contribute to its cultural and linguistic heritage. MIRORES is a play on words which incorporates the name of one of her favourite artists – Joan Miró – along with the Cornish word for “to look”, which is miras. Therefore, MIRORES essentially translates as ‘Observer’ thus presenting the album as Ani’s observation of the city in which she was born and now lives.
MIRORES also represents Ani’s first foray into production. Having been inspired by her experience of working with Martin Rushent during her time as a member of indie-pop group The Pipettes , Glass has spent the past few years teaching herself the art of recording and production. Her sound is inspired by many leading electronic and avant-garde artists and producers of the 1980s including Martin Rushent, Giorgio Moroder, Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre and Arthur Russell whilst the wider themes are inspired in part by the works of abstract painter Agnes Martin and the renowned author and activist Jane Jacobs. Despite some of the album’s heavier themes, Ani maintains a strong pop sensibility throughout, most certainly cemented during her time as a member of R&B pop group Genie Queen – managed by OMD’ s Andy McCluskey.
Following a year of touring and playing at festivals across the UK and beyond including Sound City, Future Yard, Greenman, Sŵn, Focus Wales and POP Montreal (as part of the FOCUS Wales delegation with the support of PRSF and WAI) as well as supporting acts such as Audiobooks and Stealing Sheep , Ani will be returning to her hometown of Cardiff and to towns across Wales for a series of very special performances.
Ani Glass MIRORES 2020 tour dates:
6th March - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
7th March - Railway Station, Caernarfon
14th March - Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham
21st March - Tangled Parrot, Carmarthen
Follow Ani Glass:
Ani Glass’ debut album released on 6th March 2020 via Recordiau Neb
On 6th March 2020, Ani Glass's debut album MIRORES finally sees the light of day; the culmination of four years developing her own sound and visionary artistry. With its tapestry of electronic sounds, elliptical melodies and samples threaded into a song cycle, MIRORES is based around the idea of movement and progress - one which takes us on a journey around her hometown of Cardiff. The title is taken from Ani’s bardic name - created when she joined the Cornish Gorsedh in 2013. The Gorsedh itself is a celebration of the Celtic spirit of Cornwall and Bardship is awarded to people who contribute to its cultural and linguistic heritage. MIRORES is a play on words which incorporates the name of one of her favourite artists – Joan Miró – along with the Cornish word for “to look”, which is miras. Therefore, MIRORES essentially translates as ‘Observer’ thus presenting the album as Ani’s observation of the city in which she was born and now lives.
MIRORES also represents Ani’s first foray into production. Having been inspired by her experience of working with Martin Rushent during her time as a member of indie-pop group The Pipettes, Glass has spent the past few years teaching herself the art of recording and production. Her sound is inspired by many leading electronic and avant-garde artists and producers of the 1980s including Martin Rushent, Giorgio Moroder, Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre and Arthur Russell whilst the wider themes are inspired in part by the works of abstract painter Agnes Martin and the renowned author and activist Jane Jacobs. Despite some of the album’s heavier themes, Ani maintains a strong pop sensibility throughout, most certainly cemented during her time as a member of R&B pop group Genie Queen – managed by OMD’s Andy McCluskey.
Following a year of touring and playing at festivals across the UK and beyond including Sound City, Future Yard, Greenman, Sŵn, Focus Wales and POP Montreal (as part of the FOCUS Wales delegation with the support of PRSF and WAI) as well as supporting acts such as Audiobooks and Stealing Sheep, Ani will be returning to her hometown of Cardiff and to towns across Wales for a series of very special performances.
Ani Glass MIRORES 2020 tour dates:
6th March - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
7th March - Railway Station, Caernarfon
14th March - Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham
21st March - Tangled Parrot, Carmarthen
C E L A V I (Keh-Laa-Vee) A R E Y O U R E A D Y F O R S O M E T H I N G D I F F E R E N T ?
By Ceri Shaw, 2019-12-29
C E L A V I are an industrial/rock/electro band from Bangor, North Wales. The heavy guitar driven sound of their music is dramatically contrasted by Sarah’s soft and delicate voice which compliments their music and makes them stand out from the crowd.
N O V U S is C E L A V I ’s debut EP released on the MERAKI label and was recorded in the same studio as the mighty Parting Gift who are now signed to Fearless Records in California.
N O V U S was released on the 23 rd August 2019 and is available on all digital platforms.
Are you ready for something different? Welcome to our goth world.
Dark. Heavy. Strange. Beautiful.
Industrial. Rock. Electro. Metal.
Socials
Twitter: @Celavi_Music
Instagram: @celavi_music
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/wearecelavi
AmeriCymru: You’re hosting an interactive, online Christmas Party from Snowdonia, what’s that going to be like?
Sera: Above all else it's going to be fun. Fun for us and for people watching. It's unscripted and it's live, and it's a completely new venture for us - so it's also going to be a little scary (for us!) But the whole point is to try something new and see what happens. It will mostly be about music; lots of live music, videos, spoken word and chat. And one of the most important elements is that we want people at home to get involved by interacting via the live chat on the channel - people can comment, ask questions and send in content. It's also going to be bilingual, so music in Welsh and English and interviews with guests. As far as what we'd compare it to, then it's the Jools Holland show meets Wayne's World! On a budget.
AmeriCymru: Can you tell us about any of the performers yet?
Sera: We've announced Eve Goodman (acoustic/folk) The Stash (indie band) and Martin Daws (spoken word) so far, via these videos, which were a lot of fun to make:
Eve Goodman
Martin Daws
The Stash [Censored Vesion]
The performers will all be North Wales based and from different genres. We'll be revealing some more acts over the next few days in the run up to the show on Wednesday! It will be presented by me (Sera) Llyr Jones (from band Pasta Hull) and Anna Lloyd (on the live chat on youtube)We're all performers too, but will probably stick to presenting on the night!
AmeriCymru: Have you done this event before and will you be continuing it or something like it in the future?
Sera: This is a real first for all of us who are involved! It's very scary going 'live' when you're trying a new idea. We have another one scheduled for February, so we hope to build from the first one and see what works and doesn't work and welcome people wanting to get involved. We were fortunate to receive financial help from from Arloesi Gwynedd Wledig and CEG for this pilot and to get the idea off the ground. We really want to keep it going but will need help in doing so. We need people to watch and support us in the venture. It's so important to us to share the local arts scene here with the rest of the world. It's such a special place here in Snowdonia and there is a thriving creative scene. This is the wonder of technology and a way in which it can be used to connect communities.
AmeriCymru: What is CEG records and the Astralship?
Sera: CEG Records is the label arm of 'CEG' which is a non-profit we started up a few years ago - CEG, which is Welsh for 'mouth' is an abbreviation of 'Cerddoriaeth Eryri a'r Gogledd ' (The music of Snowdonia and North Wales) - the aim was to represent and to find and create avenues for local music, by doing things like hosting stages as events and festivals to running community projects. You can have a look at the CEG Records roster here: http://www.cegrecords.com/ The Astralship is a collective of artists and engineers that are developing models for new kinds of community and innovation hubs in arts and technology. So CEG and Atralship working together on this project made a lot of sense. We're trialing something new and exciting here.
AmeriCymru: Where can people find out more about you, the event, and the artists and other people involved in making it happen?
Sera:
The Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/580563315818670/?active_tab=discussion
Website: https://www.cegrecords.com/ceg-tv
And most importantly where you can watch CEG TV: https://www.youtube.com/c/astralship
Welsh Singer Songwriter 'Courteous Thief' to release beautiful new single 'Mountains And Sea'
By Ceri Shaw, 2019-12-04
Courteous Thief returns with the mezmerising new single 'Mountians And Sea', a refreshingly beautiful indie-folk balled that will serve as a go-to alternative to the 'Christmas song'. 'Mountians And Sea' will be released via CEG Records on Friday 6th December 2019.
Described as both contemporary new folk and acoustic indie pop, Courteous Thief (aka Gary Roberts) has been a regular on the live circuit, supporting bands and artists such as Turin Brakes, Chris Helm, Catfish And The Bottlemen, Mark Morris (The Bluetones) and Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets) as well as festival appearances with performances at some of the UK's top venues and festivals.
Accolades from past singles and releases has seen Courteous Thief being championed By BBC Radio Wales, achieving the coveted BBC Radio Wales Single Of The Week, BBC live sessions, interviews as well as hitting the airwaves on BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing, BBC Gloucestershire and recently hitting the British Airways Playlist.
2019 will see new release “A Bed For Me” released in June on welsh label “CEG Records, with more live dates and new tracks on the horizon for late 2019 and beyond. “Melodiously mesmerizing, harmoniously vibrant and warmly atmospheric folk-pop finery” (Nessi Hault, Carpe Carmina)
Courteous Thief Online:
www.courteousthief.co.uk
Facebook.com/courteousthief
Twitter.com/courteousthief
Soundcloud.com/courteousthief
Instagram.com/courteousthief
AmeriCymru: Hi Meilir and many thanks for agreeing to this interview. Care to introduce your forthcoming single 'It Begins' for our readers?
Meilir: My new single is out now and is called ‘It Begins’. It will be the opening track (if nothing changes) to my debut album ‘In Tune’ that will be released in March 2020. I have been busy recording the songs with producer Charlie Francis (R.E.M., The High Llamas, Sweet Baboo) in Cardiff. I am very excited about putting out this new music as I think, and from the reaction I’m getting, this album including the first single ‘It Begins’ is some of my best work to date. ’It Begins’ is about starting again, a new beginning, hopefully implementing the things that I've learned in life and moving forwards.
AmeriCymru: In the past you have released a series of E.P's but no album. 'IN TUNE' is due for release in March next year. What can we expect from Meilir Tomos' first album and why has it taken so long?
Meilir: I’ve wanted to make an album since I was in my late teens, one that would change the world. That was the plan. I think that sort of pressure on myself is one of the reasons it’s taken so long to get to this stage. I still have high standards but I’m a little more mature now and realise there are things in this world more important than music, sometimes. I’m more focused now on creating good art not so much changing the world. My original plan for my music release wise was to put out three E.P’s, that kind of happened and now over the past year I’ve been focused on putting this album together. I received funding from the PRS Foundation and that kick-started the project and made it a reality. Without their help there probably wouldn't be an album. Musically I’ve developed as a songwriter, there is more depth to the songs I feel. Delivering a performance in the studio is something I have improved on, nothing on the record is overdone, you know taken from take 48 or something or even take 4, the actual recording process has been quite fast with intervals of weeks in-between the recording sessions. I think that’s a good thing. I’m very happy with how the record sounds and I can’t wait to share it with the world next year. My records are very personal, This album is no different. One of the reasons they take so long for me to complete I think. There are themes on ‘IN TUNE’ that carry from my first two records; I suppose it's like a sound track to my life in a way. Some of the parts that made up the demos for this record are at least eight years old; it's been good to take a little longer over the process but it will be nice to finally complete them and let them go.
AmeriCymru: It's been a while since we last spoke and I wanted to take the opportunity to ask you about your stunning 'Arabella' E.P. I find myself continually returning to the 'Spero' track but I have to ask ... is this a message of hope or is there a note of cynicism in that chorus?
Meilir: There is a message of hope to that song. I have had a tendency to over think things in the past and maybe worry about the outcome of things. My focus in the past could be on the few things that I didn’t like about my life. Probably not in a healthy way, when in truth, there was a lot of good things going on. ‘Spero' is about being in a place that may not be comfortable but realising that this will pass and that there is a lot to be thankful for, especially in tough times.
AmeriCymru: You are a classically trained pianist and vocalist. It has been said that you 'grew frustrated with the classical world’s artistic limitations'. What caused this frustration and what determined your present creative direction?
Meilir: I suppose this was about my determination and desire to create music rather than just to perform music. I was singing in competitions and concerts from a young age and I enjoyed it but at a certain time I really wanted to create my own music. Music that was different to what I had been doing all my life and performing how I was coached, sticking to the composers wishes was not what i wanted to do anymore. I wanted to be the composer!
AmeriCymru: You toured recently with the Joy Formidable on their European tour. Care to tell us a little about that experience?
Meilir: It was amazing. The Joy Formidable were so nice to tour with, they are lovely people. The experience really was invaluable. I had the best time ever, and I grew as a musician and a live performer on that tour. Traveling around sharing my music live, performing every night. It’s what I want to do! I learned a lot on that tour and I have changed a few things up about my live show and my set up from seeing how The Joy Formidable did things. It’s made my live show a lot smoother and better. I can’t wait to be back out on the road performing this new material live.
AmeriCymru: Where can people go to hear and buy your music online?
Meilir: ‘It Begins’ is streaming everywhere now!!! So people should be able to find it on their favourite streaming platform! You can buy the single directly from meilir.bandcamp.com here the single also has the song Glasshouse New Moons X version from the compilation for Killing Moon Records. You can also buy from all online stores such as iTunes. The pre-order for the album will be up soon on my bandcamp page.
AmeriCymru: What's next for Meilir Tomos? Any new recordings planned? Tours?
Meilir: I have started thinking about whats next, a possible EP that’s just for Piano & Voice is in the works, something a bit more stripped down than this album. I’m also starting a new electronic project with a friend. But I’m focused on this record for now and trying to make sure people get to hear it after all the hard work I’ve put in!!! There will be a tour to promote the album in the UK and I’m possibly Ireland. So covering Wales, Scotland, Ireland & England. With a few special shows planed in some out of the ordinary locations. It’s secret for now but will be announced in the new year!
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?
Meilir: Yes, thanks for paying attention to what I do, please tell your friends about me and what I do and share my music wide if you like it!!! There is a video coming soon to Youtube it would be nice to get some follows on my channel, that’s something Im trying to build up with some more videos to come soon. Thanks for having me on for an interview… Bydd Wych X
