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This year has seen the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sam Phillips and the 70th anniversary of the first releases on Sun Records. Released in the wake of their collaborations The Benefactor, Love, and Plan for a Performance, Jeremy and Paul offer a skewed but reverent homage to those who started it all, a collision driven comeback from the dynamic duo of rad deconstruction.
Recording artist, digital fine artist, and prolific electronic music and video art collaborator, Jeremy Gluck is perhaps best known as lead singer of cult surf-punk band The Barracudas, the subject of a recently released 3CD retrospective on Cherry Red Records. As a solo artist he has had songs covered by artists such as Lydia Lunch and Rowland S. Howard (The Birthday Party, Crime and the City Solution, These Immortal Souls), and Nikki Sudden (Swell Maps), with whom two latter artists he recorded the first supergroup alt.country album, ‘I Knew Buffalo Bill’ in 1987. In 1997 Gluck began a journey into experimental electronica that led to him working with some of the genre’s leading lights, including Martin Rev, Brendan Moeller, Dub Gabriel, and Youth.
Paul Hazel is a music producer and multi-instrumentalist. He has studied electro-acoustic composition with Simon Emmerson and been through the ‘Search and Reflect’ method with free jazz drummer John Stevens. He has had many releases on labels such as Rising High, Rotation, Inspiral, 2Kool, Welsh Modular Alliance, and SWND. As part of the band Blue Train he hit the Billboard dance charts with Get Movin’, released on Masters At Work. He has composed and produced the music for a number of commercial films and TV programmes. Short films of his own have been exhibited in Japan, Venice, and at several galleries across Wales.
Links
https://bambooradical.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JeremyGluckArt
https://www.facebook.com/paul.hazel.31/
https://twitter.com/nonceptualism
https://objkt.com/profile/tz2JPVuwvUZyq1LyFwNz2ghXbJ62pQ1rd9f2/activity
Thu 23rd March - The Parish, Wrexham.
Fri 24th March - Cwrw, Carmarthen.
Sat 25th March - Cader Rocks Torrent Walk, Dolgellau
* FREE ENTRY *
Sat 25th March - 1pm - The Second 45 Record Shop - Acoustic instore gig
*FREE ENTRY*
Please come a long and support the bands & the venues!
Bethan Lloyd releases new 'Aria' single today Album Metamorphosis follows on 7th April
By Ceri Shaw, 2023-03-11
Bethan Lloyd is a Welsh artist whose trance inducing vocals expand over an ocean of rave inspired production, harmonic layering and otherworldly ecstasy. Her sonic exploration has taken her from training as a classical singer, immersing herself in Berlin’s experimental music scene, to learning with shamans, masters and the ancient teachings of the natural world. In her latest single, Aria, Bethan, producing alongside Pre-Human bandmate Isaac Ray, takes her intense explorations of the spirit and emotional realms and blends them into something playful and danceable, a gritty experimental pop.
The Vanities are an electro-rock duo from Cardiff made up of Rhys Bradley (vocals/guitar) and Adam Hill (bass guitar). Following a riotous period of early success in the noughties, the band retreated into a self-imposed, decade-long exile before returning in 2021 with their critically acclaimed album, “2001”.
Lead single “London” was singled out for particular praise and enjoyed heavy rotation on BBC Radio Wales, leading to the band supporting New Romantic legend Tony Hadley on his 40th anniversary tour in 2022.
The Vanities return in 2023 with new single, “Private Army”. A notable shift from their signature 80s sound, “Private Army” is an epic orchestral affair, a haunting lament on the folly of humankind in the new era of war in Europe.
The band will be playing a small number of select “unplugged” shows in support of the release, including two dates with Peter Cox of 80s icons Go West.
01/04/23 – The Second 45
15/04/23 – TIWNFEST
29/04/23 – HMV Cardiff
16/05/23 – Acapela Studio w. Peter Cox (SOLD OUT)
17/05/23 – Acapela Studio w. Peter Cox
Armed with a dusty box of his fathers’ old 80s and funk records for inspiration, Bridgend singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ci Gofod (Jack Thomas Davies) made his solo debut with the sweet and soulful single ' Castle Square' in 2020.
Taking influences from the likes of Super Furry Animals and Sly And The Family Stone , Ci Gofod’s brand new single ‘Rhedeg Yn Y Nos’; which translates to ‘Running At Night’ is a blissful yet funky groove that melts dreamy guitar melodies over Thomas-Davies chilled out Welsh language vocals.
Davies writes and records his 80s-inspired soul-infused disco-funk grooves from his bedroom studio in the South Wales Valleys. To bring his unique brand of indie-funk euphoria to stages, his live band now consists of Josh David Read (keys, guitar, vox), Lloyd Bastian (guitar, vox), Quillian Thomas (bass), and Josh Cox (drums).
Ci Gofod’s singles have been a regular feature on Adam Walton’s BBC Radio Wales show and BBC Radio Cymru . Aled Hugh’s BBC Radio Cymru show also ran an extensive interview in Welsh.
Ci Gofod’s most successful single to date, Lose the Pressure, which will be a hit with any fans of Chic, Jungle, Sly and the Family Stone, has racked up over 46k streams on Spotify alone.
Along with his mission to fill dancefloors with his energetic and flamboyant sound, Ci Gofod also seeks to orchestrate aural melting pots of funk, indie and neo-soul that pays ode to his Welsh heritage. His sights are firmly fixed on making an everlasting mark on the South Wales music scene; his success from the outset is proving that he’s a soulful force to be reckoned with.
“Hitting play on any of Ci Gofod’s singles is a sure-fire way to get a soul fix, but for the most potent shot, delve right into the dreamy, energetic tones of Digital Conversation which captures the lament for our digital reality while allowing you to be enlivened by it. If that isn’t how you define stellar musicianship, I don’t know what is.”
- Amelia Vandergast, A&R Factory
Taking influences from the likes of Super Furry Animals and Sly And The Family Stone, Ci Gofod’s brand new single ‘Rhedeg Yn Y Nos’; which translates to ‘Running At Night’ is a blissful yet funky groove that melts dreamy guitar melodies over Thomas-Davies chilled out Welsh language vocals.
Blodwen yn America Hanes y perfformiad cyntaf yn yr Unol Daleithiau o Blodwen Joseph Parry,
sef opera gyntaf – a Chymraeg – Cymru. Llyfr newydd gan Dulais Rhys – Dydd G ŵyl Dewi 2023
Cyhoeddwyd gan Eres Books yn yr Unol Daleithiau: eresbooks.com
Ym mis Mai 2019, yn Billings, Montana yn yr Unol Daleithiau, perfformiwyd opera Joseph Parry Blodwen gan Rimrock Opera Foundation yn NOVA Center for the Performing Arts. Dyma oedd y perfformiad llwyfan llawn c yntaf o Blodwen yn America a’r cwmni opera oedd y cyntaf yn y wlad i ganu yn Gymraeg.
Yn dilyn braslun o fywyd a gyrfa gerddorol Joseph Parry, amlinellir hanes ei operâu, gan ganolbwyntio ar Blodwen , ei opera gyntaf, a’i phwysigrwydd yn hanes cerddoriaeth Cymru; yna manylir ar gysylltiad yr awdur gyda Joseph Parry.
Yn 1978, ar gyfer dathlu canmlwyddiant perfformiad cyntaf Blodwen , cynhaliodd Gŵyl Gerdd Menai berfformiad cyngerdd o’r opera. Ar gyfer yr ŵyl, creodd yr awdur fersiwn cerddorfa newydd a oedd yn seiliedig ar lawysgrif wreiddiol Parry – gwaith a wnaethpwyd tra oedd yn fyfyriwr yn yr Unol Daleithiau. Yn dilyn llwyddiant y perfformiad, creodd yr awdur fersiwn siambr o’r sgôr, fel y gellid perfformio Blodwen mewn theatrau llai a gyda cherddorfa fach.
Ar ôl ymfudo i’r Unol Daleithiau yn 2011, cynigiodd yr awdur y trefniant i gwmnïau opera’r wlad. Derbyniwyd sawl ymateb calonogol ac yn 2016, cymerodd Rimrock Opera Foundation yn Billings yr abwyd a datgan ei fwriad i berfformio Blodwen . Dilynwyd hyn gan gyfnod o drafodaethau, cyfarfodydd cynhyrchu, clyweliad au lleisiol, dethol y corws a gwahodd cantorion proffesiynol (o bell – yn cynnwys Cymru – ac agos) i ymgymryd â phrif rannau’r opera.
Cafodd y cynhyrchiad gyhoeddusrwydd eang yn y wasg a’r cyfryngau ar ddwy ochr yr Iwerydd ac mae Blodwen yn America yn olrhain hanes y trafodaethau, y paratoadau a’r ymarferion ynghyd â’r perfformiadau ac ymateb y gynulleidfa a’r wasg.
In May 2019, in Billings, Montana in the United States, Joseph Parry Blodwen's opera was performed by Rimrock Opera Foundation in Nova Center for the Performing Arts. It was the first full stage performance of Blodwen in America and the opera company was the first in the country to sing in Welsh.
Following a sketch of Joseph Parry's life and musical career, the history of his operas is outlined, focusing on Blodwen, his first opera, and her importance in the history of Welsh music; The author's connection is then detailed with Joseph Parry.
In 1978, to celebrate the centenary of Blodwen's first performance, the Menai Music Festival held a concert performance of the opera. For the festival, the author created a new orchestra version based on Parry's original manuscript - a work done while he was a student in the United States. Following the success of the performance, the author created a chamber version of the score, so that Blodwen could be performed in smaller theaters and with a small orchestra.
After emigrating to the United States in 2011, the author offered the arrangement to the country's opera companies. Several encouraging responses were received and in 2016, Rimrock Opera Foundation took the bait and declared its intention to perform Blodwen. This was followed by a period of discussions, production meetings, vocal auditions, chorus selection and inviting professional singers (remotely - including Wales - and near) to undertake the main parts of the opera.
He received a broad publicity production in the press and media on both sides of the Atlantic and Blodwen in America traces the history of the discussions, preparations and exercises as well as the performances and the audience and press response.
Debut Album 'Hollowing Out' released 31.03.23
Hailing from Cardiff, Red Telephone’s richly layered alt-rock could have emanated from a club in Blade Runner's dystopian LA - combining angular guitars, Krautrock-inspired rhythms and New Wave-tinged synths with infectious pop sensibilities. Drawing on post punk and synth pop influences, the band has been catching the attention of DJs across BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 1, Absolute Radio and Radio X; with comparisons to the likes of MGMT, Super Furry Animals, Mitski and Berlin-era Bowie being drawn. The band have recently appeared at BBC 6 Music Fringe Festival, Focus Wales, Swn Festival, Other Voices and Llangollen Fringe, supporting Warmduscher. With previous single releases on Welsh-based labels Libertino Records and the Popty-Ping Recording Company, the band's highly anticipated debut album is set to be released in March 2023.
Crëwyd gan Ynyr a Bethan Mai Morgan Ifan Ffilmiwyd yn Pantri Lolfa Pen-bre, diolch i Holly a Lee Weston-Zygaldo - Created by Ynyr and Bethan Mai Morgan Ifan Filmed in Pantri Lolfa Pen-bre, thanks to Holly and Lee Weston-Zygaldo
(scroll down for English)
Mae’n bosib mai’r ddau drac yma yw’r mynegiad mwyaf pur a chrisialaidd o brif thema’r albym – profiadau Bethan ac Ynyr o fod yn rhieni. Maen nhw hefyd yn ganeuon pop da – felly roeddent yn teimlo fel par o ganeuon addas am sengl ddwbl.
1,2,3
Fel nifer o’r caneuon ar yr albym, cyfansoddwyd y gân hon yn wreiddiol ar y piano gan Bethan. Mae Ynyr a Bethan yn chwarae’r utgyrn ac yn ymuno a hwy mae Ioan Hefin, y dyn sy’n gyfrifol am solo trwmped mwyaf eiconig cerddoriaeth Gymraeg yn Gloria Tyrd Adre gan Eryr Wen. Mae hi’n gân am gariad a’r teimlad o geisio amgyffred maint y cariad gallwch deimlo at rhywun. Mae’n berthnasol i unrhyw fath o gariad ond yn yr achos hwn fe’i hysgrifennwyd wrth i’w merch droi yn dri mlwydd oed, gyda Bethan gwneud ymgais i fynegi a deall y cariad roedd hi’n ei deimlo am ei phlentyn a mawredd rhoi genedigaeth; yr her, gorchfygu a gorfoledd a holl fregusdra amrwd y profiad.
Geiriau
Shwt gall rhywbeth mor bitw
Siglo’r ddaear, tanio iâs?
Pan fi’n teimlo fe’n curo,
So’ fe tu fewn nawr, mae e tu fas,
Un, dau, tri Menywod doeth oedd yn gwylio,
Fy nghyn-famau, rhowch i mi nerth.
Holltodd twll yn y nefoedd,
Dysgu gwers o beth yw gwerth.
Fflachlwch Bach
Teyrnged i’w plentyn cyntaf-anedig. Daeth yr ysbrydoliaeth wrth i Bethan geisio cyfansoddi rhywbeth ar y piano gyda’i merch yn ei chôl yn scriblo dros y nodau. Mae prydferthwch mewn normalrwydd a phethau dydd i ddydd, gorfoledd mewn diwrnod arferol gyda phlant bach. Mae seren y gan yn ymddangos gyda solo allweddellau a’i llinell;
‘Beth chi’n aros am? Cân neu beth?
Fi mynd i ddechre un nawr so agor eich clustiau!’
Rhwng ysgrifennu a rhyddhau’r gan, mae eu hail blentyn wedi dod i dynnu sylw a chreu anrhefn wrth y piano unwaith eto, gan ysgrifennu rhan i’w hun yn y gân o nawr ymlaen hefyd. Mae Llyr Parri ar y dryms, Elen Ifan ar y soddgrwth a Mari Morgan ar y ffidil yn ymuno â Bethan ac Ynyr ar y trac yma.
Fflachlwch Bach (Bach) yw teitl y fersiwn fyrhaëdig hon o’r gân, gyda’r ferswin lawn yn ymddangos ar y record. Roedd y dull hyn o enwi yn fwy diddorol na galw’r trac yn ‘(Radio Edit)’ er ei fod mwy na thebyg yn fwy tebygol o achosi dryswch.
English
These two tracks are possibly the most crystalline and pure expression of the album’s main theme – Bethan and Ynyr’s experiences of parenthood. They’re also good pop songs – so they felt like an appropriate AA-side.
1,2,3
Like much of the album, this song was initially composed by Bethan on the piano. It features Ynyr and Bethan on trumpets but also features Ioan Hefin, the man responsible for performing Welsh music’s greatest and most iconic trumpet solo in Eryr Wen’s Gloria Tyrd Adre. It’s a song about love and the feeling of trying to comprehend the magnitude of the love that you can feel for someone. It can relate to any form of love but in this instance it was written when their daughter turned 3 years old, with Bethan trying to articulate and comprehend the outpouring of love felt for a child and the hugeness of childbirth; the challenge, escalation, triumph, glory and the raw vulnerability of it all.
Lyrics:
How can something so small
Shake the earth, spark shivers?
When I feel it beating It’s not inside now, it’s outside
One, two, three Wise women were watching
My ancestral mothers, give me strength
A hole split in the sky
Learning a lesson about what value is
Fflachlwch Bach
An ode to their first-born child. The inspiration came as Bethan was trying to compose something on the piano with their daughter in her lap scribbling over the notes. There’s beauty in normality and the everyday, joy in an average day with small children. The star of the song also makes appearance with a keyboard solo and her self-penned line;
‘What are you waiting for? A song or what?
I’m going to begin one now so open your ears!’
Between the writing and release of the song, the arrival of their second child has brought fresh distractions, beats and chaos to the piano, thus writing himself a part in the song. Llyr Parri on drums, Elen Ifan on cello, Mari Morgan on Violin join Ynyr and Bethan for this one.
This shortened radio edit version is called ‘Fflachlwch Bach (Bach)’ whereas the full-length album version is Fflachlwch Bach - bach means small or little. Whilst it’s more fun than just calling it ‘(Radio Edit)’, it’s probably more confusing.
Indie Alt-Pop singer songwriter MR BEWLAY releases his next single ‘Bewlay The Tormentor’ on via Tiwn Media with Digital Distribution via Pyst. ‘Bewlay The Tormentor’ is the first single lifted from his second EP, Black Reason. Black Reason the EP is released on 3rd March. ‘Bewlay, The Tormentor’ is currently slated for impact on 17th March.
The UK Art Pop extraordinaire Mr Bewlay has established himself as the paramount voice for the unorthodox. Currently based in Cardiff, Bewlay’s 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 musical career under the mentorship of the respected Forte Project in Wales, In
addition he has played sold out headliner shows in prestigious venues such as Porters, Queens Hall and Ill Repute. As a champion for LGBTQ+ activism he has also given talks and performed at Queer festivals and shows with the On Your Face Collective. Recently Bewlay has signed with Tiwn Media and they are set to release the next wave of his music with their second Ep : Black Reason.
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 influences 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.
When speaking about the new track Mr Bewlay said, “I have garnered my fair share of controversies. From riling crowds into mayhem, to releasing songs that on the outset contain dubious lyrics. All of this was in the name of artistic expression. Tormentor was a response to these actions, an over-the-top expression of a character that was meant to push the boundaries. A rock star persona that was aware of his morally grey actions and chose to embrace them. It fits in with the themes of the EP, whereas we live in a world where liars don’t hide their intentions any more and where the power hungry wear their goals on their sleeves. This isn’t a criticism of anyone's actions, more a celebration of the absurdity of a world gone mad!.“
‘Bewlay, The Tormentor’ was produced and mixed by Andrew Saunders and mastered by Graeme Lynch. Vocals and Synths by MR BEWLAY, Percussion by Andrew Saunders, Bass by Phillip Court and guitar by Tom Emlyn.
The Black Reason EP follows the previous EP ‘Electric Reason’ which featured singles such as ‘Her Name Is Juniper’ and ‘Wobbegon
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“Singer George has a musical theatre background and I think it really shows, you're gonna love it” - Amy Lame, BBC Radio 6 Music
"So many influences in that track. Brimming with quality, I absolutely love it.” - Charlie Ashcroft, Amazing Radio UK
“Bold and charismatic, an intoxicating charm blazes from the flamboyant powerhouse and emerging talent, that is Mr Bewlay” Becky and the Bands
“Incredibly imaginative, richly rewarding and sophisticated, a pop star in the making!” Adam Walton, BBC Radio Wales Introducing
MY NAME IS IAN - 'YOU ARE AMAZING' SINGLE OUT 14.02.23 ON BUBBLEWRAP COLLECTIVE
By Ceri Shaw, 2023-02-14
Determined to release a song for all special occasions, My Name is Ian are due to release a Valentine’s Day Indie ballad this year. Following on from their Halloween pop-punk offering, ‘Spooky Holiday’ last year, and 2018’s ‘Christmas Time Again’, ‘You Are Amazing’ will be out across all digital platforms on February 14th.
The track, which references off-kilter romantic sentiments and pairings, has long been a staple of the band’s live repertoire, and has finally been blessed with a studio recording. The track comes as the band prepare to release their latest album, ‘GO BANANAS GO BANANAS GO BANANAS GO BANANAS GO BANANAS’, due out this summer through Bubblewrap Collective.
Creatures of Cardiff, My Name Is Ian have already built a back catalogue that would have taken The Stone Roses millennia to mirror. Since 2010 their output of has dealt with break-ups, breakdowns, mysterious lion paintings and characters from the Tom Hanks movie Big. This restless productivity has seen genres including but not restricted to lo-fi, bedroom punk, garage rock, prog and anti-folk, all filtered through the pop-oriented cranium of frontman Reginald Foxwell.
Impressively prolific and prolifically impressive, bittersweet but unbroken, My Name Is Ian require your immediate attention.
