Croeso! Welcome to our monthly round-up of new Welsh music. Here, we highlight the best recent releases from emerging and independent alternative artists in Wales. September has brought us a fantastic selection, featuring some of the year's top Welsh releases, delving into enchanting darkwave, jazz-inflected folk, and bold contemporary rap. Common threads run through these works; each is distinctly unique, with over half being bilingual. The most striking element is the evident ambition and careful craftsmanship that shines through in each remarkable release.
Before diving into the music, let's quickly recap some significant events in Welsh music from last month. The bilingual online station Radio Sudd has launched, showcasing an impressive lineup of our finest DJs, musicians, and scene contributors. Similarly, the esteemed TFF Radio, created by the collective Shift, has begun broadcasting, emphasizing more experimental music and art. Numerous festivals have announced their lineups; Llais and Sŵn Festival revealed most of their lineups for next month's events, alongside the stellar shortlist for the Welsh Music Prize, all under the banner of Cardiff Music City. More details on that will follow in next month’s column. In Swansea, the experimental festival Nawr unveiled its lineup for this year's November edition. Additionally, the Boia festival in St. David’s revealed an impressive lineup for next month. On a larger scale, there were also proposals for a new venue in Cardiff’s Capitol building, with headliners for the city’s large Blackweir Live site being announced, along with figures showcasing the economic boost it provided to the city center this summer.
On a somber note, we pay tribute to James Wilson, guitarist and songwriter of South Walian indie acts The Rotanas and Airflo, who passed away last weekend. A kind and friendly man beloved by the Welsh music scene, James exemplified what it means to be a genuine, passionate musician. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.
Alongside the following albums and EPs, September also featured outstanding new tracks from Welsh artists such as Chroma, Why Horses?, Lila Zing, CATTY, Pseudo Cool, Lloyd, Gwenno Morgan, Dream State, Modern Neutrals, Ivan Moult, Loveletter, Rona Mac, Alffa, and many others.
We hope you enjoy the following excellent releases from some of Wales’ finest independent artists.
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Ivor Woods – ‘Vultures’
The best music can make you feel as if you are experiencing synesthesia. Ivor Woods (the solo project of Cardiff's Rachel Crabbe) evokes sensations that transcend mere listening. This collection of six captivating tracks showcases dark, queer, sometimes love-stricken, and occasionally sinister electronica that pulsates with a sensuality so immersive that you feel as though you could reach out and touch its alluring, stylized form.
Rich with ideas—from the dark techno of ‘Pound of Flesh’ to the laid-back trip-hop of ‘The Fool’—and featuring veiled, imagistic lyrics (Rachel being a notable Deftones fan is evident in her writing), this mesmerising work also includes a haunting guest appearance from producer-vocalist James Minas. It is a stunning effort from an artist with a distinctly engaging vision.
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Cerys Hafana – ‘Angel’
The third release from the incredibly talented vocalist/harpist/composer Cerys Hafana in the past 18 months may very well be her best work yet. The accompanying video beautifully captures the mood of ‘Angel’, showcasing Hafana and her band performing amidst stunningly serene Welsh forest and river landscapes.
Few contemporary Welsh acts create music that resonates with the Welsh natural world quite like Hafana. Moments in her jazz-inflected new album are breathtaking. The mood piece ‘O’r Coed’ features swift piano and flute flourishes that flutter like creatures in the underbrush, while the intricate melodies of ‘An Dro’ swell like a rising river. Hafana's exquisite vocals on the title track feel as though a mountain breeze has lifted you into the clouds.
There is no doubt; Hafana stands among Wales’ great modern musicians, and ‘Angel’ reinforces her quiet brilliance.
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Figo – ‘Ouroboros’
A release like Figo’s ‘Ouroboros’ arises only when a music scene is thriving, as evidenced by the current state of Welsh rap. This outstanding new EP offers a bold and exhilarating experience, comprising six tracks of dense, innovative hip-hop, characterized by Figo’s distinct low-register voice and producer James Minas’s complex, emotionally charged, and nearly abstract electronic production.
To simplify, the mood sometimes resembles ‘Burial meets afrobeats’; listen to the beautifully gloomy dancefloor hit ‘Blinking Breathing’. However, the real highlight is ‘Too Much Stress’; a stunning drumless track where both MC and producer reach the peak of their abilities. It may sound exaggerated, but it is hard to find many Welsh rap releases—ever
The anticipation for next summer has begun...
With their exhilarating debut album 'Escalate', the Glasgow-based quintet and DIY Class of 2023 members VLURE elevate their electrifying rave-punk to reach a new level.
Django Django returns to the scene with their latest track, 'Temple Dogs'. This new song is now available and is included in 'SUN GOD FRAUD SQUAD', a compilation featuring multiple artists.
Louis Tomlinson has made significant progress, only to begin anew. A pop sensation due to One Direction, his solo endeavors have discovered the
James Blake disclosed that he has "nearly" finished working on his new album. The musician made this statement during a special event at Ladbroke Hall in West London.
Jacob Read has also released the lead single from the album, titled ‘Death Valley Morning Dew’.
Croeso! Welcome to our monthly roundup of new Welsh music. In this section, we highlight the best recent releases from up-and-coming and independent alternative artists from