On this week's celebration of the most interesting new Welsh music that has hammered my ear drums this week, Spencer McGarry from the Spencer McGarry Season, talks to us about the Wonder of the Welsh World that is their new album Episode 2.
bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00sqtld/Adam_Walton_13_06_2010
Spencer hasn't allowed the flatlining industry to limit his musical ambitions. Most musicians would downsize their vision of an orchestrated 'difficult' second album if they had to fund the whole affair themselves. Not Spencer. And the story of how he assembled the cast of over 10 (!) and communicated his musical ideas to them is a fascinating and uplifting tale of determination and irrepressible talent.
Huw Williams - somewhere in between rehearsals with a newly-minted version of the Pooh Sticks - reminds us of the hitherto rather unsung talents of Robbie Rae. Robbie's career involved some excellent records, but also mutated into a very high profile TV career in Canada, where Robbie rubbed shoulders with the likes of Abba and Michael Jackson in their pomp.
The man formerly known as Soundhog, but now just plain Ben, is punk baiting with a sizeable chunk of Wishbone Ash.
We have a large slice of Polly Mackey and the Pleasure Principle's recent set for Yr Wythnos Fach at Central Station in Wrexham. Polly's fine songs have caused seismic levels of excitement in the beleaguered boardrooms of what is left of the music industry. She and her band have played Texas' uber music showcase SXSW for the last three years and her début EP comes out in October. Her songs smoulder with insouciant yearning and heart-rending, minor key melodies. They're very good, in other words.
Lara Catrin translates the opaque, scatty and bonkers Chwareon (Texas Radio Band) and I have fascinating sounds from all over Wales, including debut plays for: Rural, Loose Buoy, Nucleus Roots and The Spirals.
Demos can be bunged in this direction: themysterytour@gmail.com
An e-mail address that is also useful for gig info, announcements, belligerence and party invitations.
Have an excellent week.
Next Sunday night, David Wrench begins to unravel his new album Spades & Hoes & Plows for us. Will be fascinating, I promise.
Dal i gredu!
Adam x
THE BRIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE
Smoke Fire
FRIENDS ELECTRIC
Wall Of Arms
WILLO WISPA
The Lollipop Lady's Favourite
MASTERS IN FRANCE
Greyhounds
THE KEYS
Chemistry
MEIC STEVENS
Bound For The Baltic Sea
CODEX MACHINE
Hangman
PAGAN WANDERER LU
Banish Negative Thoughts [napoleon IIIrd Remix]
SPENCER MCGARRY SEASON
Waiting For Isabel
THE CALLING CARD
Weight Of The World
RURAL
Alahberystwyth
RICHARD JAMES
You Stop The Rain
THE RAES
A Little Lovin' Keeps The Doctor Away
Y PROMATICS
Lost In Time
SPENCER MCGARRY SEASON
The Giveaway
MAN WITHOUT COUNTRY
Iceberg [session Track For Beth On BBC Introducing]
LOOSE BUOY
Horse In The Rainbow Rain
THE ROSEVILLE BAND
Tatters
POLLY MACKEY AND THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE
Live From Central Station, Wrexham
NUCLEUS ROOTS
Rocker
THE SPIRALS
Hang On To Yourself
SPENCER MCGARRY SEASON
The Serology Of Love / In Nervous Sleep
Y NIWL
Undegpump
TEXAS RADIO BAND
Chwareon
SPENCER MCGARRY SEASON
Intention Ten Folds To Tension
WISHBONE ASH
The Pilgrim
