The Hepburns

The Hepburns – Llanelli indie/rock/pop band (1985–present), feat; Matt Jones (gtr,voc,keys), Mike Thomas (bass), Les Mun (drms) early years / Pete Mason (drms) later, with additional collaborators including Nigel Boulton (lead gtr), Jen White (flute), James White (trumpet), Cris Haines (brass) and Sue Reece (flute/keys) across different albums and line‑ups. 

Formed in January 1985 in Llanelli, Wales, they emerged from the post‑punk/indie boom with a distinctive sound combining jangly guitar pop, chamber‑pop sophistication and lyrical wit influenced by Burt Bacharach, Jonathan Richman and 1960s‑70s easy‑listening. 

Signed to Cherry Red Records in 1986, they released their debut album 'The Magic Of The Hepburns' (1988) and later set up their own Magic Records label to retain creative control. The band’s output blends pop, brass, orchestral touches and cinematic songwriting, with themes ranging from humour to social commentary. 

They have toured Scandinavia and the USA, recorded multiple BBC sessions, and continue to perform and record, maintaining a devoted fanbase and a strong Welsh musical identity.

 

Discography

• 'The Magic Of The Hepburns' – 1988, Cherry Red Records

• 'Champagne Reception' – 2000, Magic Records

• 'The Last Thing I Saw Before I Said Goodbye' – 2003, Magic Records

• 'Something Worth Stealing' – 2007, Magic Records

• 'Trojan Hearse' – c2008, Magic Records

• 'How The Fallen Are Mighty' – c2010, Magic Records

• 'There’s No Such Thing As The Hepburns' – 27.01.17, Magic Records

• 'In The Mean Time' – 06.04.18, Magic Records

Notable singles / EPs

• The Magic Of The Hepburns EP (1986), Cherry Red Records

• Sideways Looking Glass (1990), Magic Records

• Hearts And Minds (2000), Magic Records

A5 - Cybergoth (R-Bennig Recs 2002)

A5 – Gwalchmai hip-hop/dance collective (1988–1993, sporadic until c2002), feat; Johnny R (prog,voc), plus a rotating cast of guest rappers and vocalists. 

Originally a lo-fi Welsh language hip-hop project recorded on 4-track cassette decks using "samplers from Argos," they evolved into a more polished dance act by the early 2000s. 

The Cybergoth CD single (R-BEN 053), released in 2002, featured a distinct shift toward electronic experimentation and included various remixes like the "Casio VL-tone Mix" and the "Doli Dolig Mix." 

And... 24 years on I'm still pondering over whether this is genius or utter rubbish (probably a bit of both).

It was packaged with a keychain, the release was typical of Johnny R’s anti-commercial, DIY ethos on his R-Bennig label.