This week's scouring of the Welsh musical constellations brings you the first part of my conversation with David Wrench about his new album Spades & Hoes & Plows - an album rooted in old folk songs of 'insurrection, defiance and rebellion', reanimated in such a blackly iconoclastic manner that the album defies almost every convention you dare throw at it. For that reason alone the album warrants investigation. It's an album that expounds the dark political souls of these remarkable songs of truth in a daringly contemporary manner, buckling convention whilst simultaneously sounding thrilling and unsettling is one of the high achievements of Welsh music. Truly.
bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00stlqq/Adam_Walton_20_06_2010/
From another dimension of the musical universe comes a half hour mix of warm-hearted, playful electronica from Cardiff's Mice Girls. Their melodic synths tumble like prismatic waterfalls all over the dancefloor in your mind. You do have a dancefloor in your mind, don't you? At my age, it's the only place to dance with any dignity. It's half an hour to elevate and invigorate you. Still don't know anything about their mysterious mousey selves, though. Ah, well. Sometimes you can know too much.
Godfather of the Welsh underground, founder member of Y Fflaps, Ectogram's Alan Holmes, reminds us of some of North Wales' fascinating - but largely uncelebrated - musical past. This week he recalls Some Noise - a band that featured a North Walean talent who has as much claim as anyone to inventing punk rock.
A man called Ben eulogises the electronic musical genius of Laurie Spiegel.
And we have new Welsh music from all over the country - including debut plays for Cut Ribbons, Liars Beware, River Kids, Tacsi, Piblotko and the Abodes.
** send new Welsh demos high in inspiration to: themysterytour@gmail.com with a short biography and a contact number, please **
Next week, more from David Wrench & a live set from Wrexham's Gallops!
Have an excellent week.
Thanks / diolch yn fawr,
Adam
ISLET
We Shall Visit
CUT RIBBONS
When Will The Water
LIARS BEWARE
Sex
RIVER KIDS
The Seed 2.0
BAGPIPE WHISKEY
This Is A Chicken
THE JOY FORMIDABLE
Popinjay
VICTORIAN ENGLISH GENTLEMANS CLUB
A Biting Wind Followed By An Occasional Drift Of Snow
IVAN MOULT
I Might Get Cold
LUNGWAH
The Snag
TACSI
Diolch
SPENCER MCGARRY SEASON
Great Enemies
SOME NOISE
In Transit
THE KEYS
People Meet People
HYENER
Kitchenn For Beth On Radio 1]
PIBLOTKO
Vacant Vessel
TENDER TRAP
Do You Want A Boyfriend?
MOTHER OF SIX
Penelope
RACE HORSES
Scooter
DAVID WRENCH/BLACK SHEEP
A Radical Song
STAGGA
The Dragon
BLUE EYED SHARK EXPERIMENT
What To Do
THE MICE GIRLS
Exclusive mix
THE MICE GIRLS
Clothes
BAD COMPUTER
Evils
CORNELIUS
Another View Point
VOLTAGE
All Night [azari & Iii Remix]
DANIEL STEINBERG
Tom's Diner [bingo Remix]
ETIENNE DE CRECY
Gorkster
PEACE DIVISION
Eh Oh Um
ANDY CALDWELL
It's Guud
JAVI COLOURS
Shined On Me
MICE GIRLS
Infestation
THE ABODES
Potato Tragedy
LAURIE SPIEGEL
Appalachian Grove 1
THE DEATH OF CHAPMAN BAXTER
Taste Like Chicken
DIDZ
Hot Gal
