The last few years have seen some excellent psychedelic pop compilations coming out, with records like ‘The Sounds Of Monsterism Island’ charting the more extravagant results of LSD abuse in the late '60s and early ‘70s. Welsh language pop from the same era is by no means exclusively psychedelic, but it does share a similar mix of humour and anarchy which lends itself to a fun and lucid atmosphere.
We have Andy Votel of Twisted Nerve and Gruff Rhys of SFA to thank for this particular series, which focuses on blaxploitation style funk bands (Chwys), existentially medieval bands (Y Gwenwyn), and prototype glam rock bands (Bran). The majority of the artists went through the regional label Sain Records, and some of them found success outside of Wales, such as Meic Stevens.
The album is stringed together with a hilarious voiceover - presumably from an old radio broadcast – which comes to us ‘live’ from a family festival in Eisteddfod. “Hello everyone," the voice announces, “I'm speaking to you from the majestic Welsh hills. You know, every year thousands of people come to this small market town. But why? Many reasons - music, colour, excitement, laughter and enjoyment... and you can also make new friends. Let's go over and see what's happening."
Of course, if the only novelty here was hearing retro pop music in the Welsh language, it wouldn’t stand up to repeated listens. This record is fascinating because it represents an entire parallel universe to the era of ‘60s pop - and it includes some banging tunes too. The ghosts of Elvis, Nick Drake, Sly and The Family Stone and The Beatles haunt the corridors, but there’s another sound – the sound of creative minds at work - that rings out loudest.
Best new band in Glasgow, by a mile!
...Any more snooker cliches?
...Second track sounds like a more snarly mid-60s Who. Excellent.
...First one sounds like Sean Ryder having a flashback but second track is a killer.
...once you've drunk a bottle of Maker's Mark in Copehagen?
...The more I watch it, the more I like it.
...Sex on Fire is good once you've drunk a bottle of Maker's Mark in Copenhagen
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I didn't think the media's obsession with female body weight could have got much worse, when I'd been taken aback by it 12 years ago. How wrong I was.
Or, maybe I'm just more aware of what's going on...
POPPY AND THE JEZEBELS' REALITY RECORD SHOPS OF CHOICE ARE:
SWORDFISH RECORDS, BIRMINGHAM
POLAR BEAR RECORDS, KINGS HEATH
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Now then, Devendra Banhart. I've always liked his beard, but not his music. However, his new collaboration with Greg Rogrove - called Megapuss - is rather good.
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Excellent track from their excellent new (to the UK) album Forts (released this week, expect review here soon).
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