Heldinky play Cob Records, Bangor

Found this gem of a video of Bangor lounge band Heldinky playing at Cob Records on Record Store Day, with a great version of Nine Inch Nails' Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)

Yucatan release Enlli EP

(by Adam Walton - taken from BBC website as they alway take stuff from mine)

The delicate carousels of the guitar in the Enlli EP's lead track, Cur, hung on a firmament of piano notes as clear as stars in a cloudless sky, pick me up and elevate me out of the smouldering back garden, lifting me above the treetops so gently I hardly notice the lawn I was supposed to have mown yesterday evening. I can feel a breeze on my face, but it's not coming from the weather: it's the breaths of the choir that splendidly billows out the sails of the first two tracks on this EP... somewhere in amongst the ice sparkles of glockenspiel and Dilwyn's lonely voice. Dilwyn is Mr Yucatan, if Roger Hargreaves had ever thought to write a book about a humble sonic explorer.

And I swear to you: I feel cool, liberated, blown far away from the inconsequential chaff by the beautiful visions landscaped to perfection on this EP.

If it doesn't remind you of Sigur Rós' atmospherics you're being deliberately contrary. Sigur Ros' music is inspired by the Icelandic land and skyscapes. Over recent years their music has lost some of its evocative power because TV producers have bled their albums dry to bring celestial beauty and drama to snake oil TV shows that are as mysterious as con men fleecing pensioners. And Sigur Rós' unwitting (and, I believe, unwilling) omnipresence on Saturday evening ITV has weighed these once otherwordly tracks down with humdrum associations.

It's a great shame.

Back to Yucatan. In exactly the same way that the strange landscapes of Iceland permeate Sigur Rós' music, so does the dramatic geography and meteorology of Wales shape Enlli. Particularly, this EP is inspired by the 'evocative mystique' of Ynys Enlli, off the West coast peninsula of Pen Llyn.

And although the approach is similar, in some respects, to Sigur Rós: minimal orchestration, echoey grandeur, a sound to fill a night sky with bright wonders, this EP is as unique as the landscape that inspired it: no more similar to Sigur Rós than a photo of Ynys Enlli is to a photo of some weird volcanic moonscape on Iceland.

In particular, Dilwyn's voice is more grounded, less ethereal than Jonsi's. He sounds like a man awed by what he sees around him - which is resonant to me as a listener because throughout this EP I'm awed by what I'm hearing.

It's breathtaking, emotive and suffused with enough magic to turn a bad afternoon into one illuminated by marvels.

Enlli is released on Recordiau Coll on 23 August.

2009 Gig Reviews

27.11.09 - Duncan Black @ Y Fricsan, Cwm-y-Glo

14.11.09 - Impaled Existence, Global Parasite, Zebedy, Kickstart Kitty @ Old Hall Penrhyn Bay

13.11.09 - Aura Distorter, Tramp with a Plan, Merciless Savage, Juggling Grenades, Ugly Fashion @ Speakers, Colwyn Bay

04.11.09 - Stuntface, Wonk Unit, Hovercraft Pirates @ Dudley Arms, Rhyl

29.10.09 - Birdhouse, EllaMae Sureuf, Sona @ Caskeys, Rhyl

29.10.09 - Gallops, 4 Sticks @ Y Menai, Bangor

28.10.09 - Bad Brains @ Hard Rock Cafe, Maui, Hawaii

27.09.09 - Mafafi, Impaled Existence @ Speakers Corner, Colwyn Bay

26.09.09 - Napalm Death, Die Leitzen @ Backstage, Munich

25.09.09 - Raised By Drunks, Revenge of The Psychotronic Man @ Madocs, Colwyn Bay

04.09.09 - Drederick Tatum + Burn The Skyline + Coryphaeus @ Caskeys, Rhyl

28.08.09 - Race Horses @ Telfords Warehouse, Chester

01.08.09 - Babar Luck, Anonymous Tip, Minus Society, A War Against Sound, Gandhi’s Cookbook, The Mephs @ Madoc’s, Colwyn Bay

19/20/21.06.09 - Hellfest @ Clisson, France

11.06.09 - Ether + After An Alibi + Daniel James @ Grapevine, Rhyl

10.06.09 - Prong @ Music Box, Manchester

06.06.09 - The Shadowcops + The Stilletoes + Like I Care? @ Dudley Arms, Rhyl

25.05.09 - Subhumans, Meinhof, Refuse All, War Coma, The Rebel Conspiracy @ The Star And Garter, Manchester (and another one!)

24/25.05.09 - Hammerfest @ Pontins, Prestatyn

24.05.09 - Assert, Machinochrist, Global Parasite, Theo, Anti Virus @ The Wagon And Horse, Birmingham

22.05.09 - Global Parasite, Martha Beck, Haywire, In Her Ruin, Smokey Bastards @ The Hobbit, Southampton

22.05.09 - The Stilletoes, I Am Austin, Son Capson, Irma Vep, Endaf Presli @ Rascals, Bangor

21.05.09 - Star Fucking Hipsters, Moral Dillema, 2 Sick Monkeys, Dead Subverts @ The Star & Garter, Manchester

03.05.09 - The Specials @ Manchester Apollo

25.04.09 - Isaac Birchall @ Dudley Arms, Rhyl

22.04.09 - Stilletoes, Zebedy @ Grapevine, Rhyl

17.04.09 - Propagandhi, Random Hand, CopOut @ Sheffield Academy

13.04.09 - Palehorse @ Retro Bar, Manchester

27.03.09 - Sona, Grand Park @ Skerries, Bangor

28.02.09 - Insentia, Apogee, Bastions, The Mephs @ Rascals, Bangor

26.02.09 - Metallica @ Manchester Evening News Arena

19.02.09 - Out From Animals, Carjack Mallone, The Brakes, Trader @ Tivoli, Buckley

19.02.09 - Day Before Mortality, Vehicle Field, Slightly Generic @ M cLeans, Queensferry

16.02.09 - A Day To Remember, Azriel, Elias Last Day, For The Fallen Dreams @ Music Box, Manchester

15.02.09 - A Day To Remember, Failsafe, Honeymoon Suite @ Roadhouse, Manchester

13.02.09 - Iris 3, Valleum, Get out Clause, DeMask, Love Truncheon @ Hendre Hall, Bangor

12.02.09 - Testament, Zaprinski Connection, The Inquisition @ Academy 2, Liverpool

07.02.09 - Anti Virus, Down To Kill, Autonomads @ Dudley Arms, Rhyl

05.02.09 - Thyrd Eye, Calling Shotgun, Good Syrs @ McLeans, Queensferry

05.02.09 - Chiodos, Exit Ten, Sonny Moore @ Manchester

01.02.09 - Wolves in the Throne Room, They Are Cowards, Hammers, Stuntcock @ Star and Garter, Manchester

31.01.09 - Napalm Death, Theoktony, Nekkrosis @ The Asylum, Birmingham

30.01.09 - Extreme Noise Terror, Disorder @ Bierkeller, Bristol

15.01.09 - Video Nasties, Threatmantics, Swantonbombs @ Central Station, Wrexham

02.01.09 - Parking Non-Stop, Duncan Black, Wrightoid, Facefish, Factory Star @ Anglesey Arms, Menai Bridge

Mother Of Six release single Castell

(((Mother of Six))) were a heavy, stoner-doom band hailing from Wrexham, North Wales, known for their crushing riffs, cosmic atmosphere, and a fierce DIY ethic. Formed in the mid-2000s, the band carved out a cult following in the with a sound that fused slow, earth-rumbling doom with elements of psychedelic and space rock. Often billed as “Wrexham’s heaviest mothers,” the band became synonymous with raw volume and introspective heaviness.

Though they never pursued mainstream recognition, (((Mother of Six))) built a strong reputation on the live circuit, sharing stages with kindred spirits in the UK sludge and doom underground. Health issues and personal commitments eventually led to the band’s quiet winding down, with a farewell message posted on their social media over a decade after they began.

Members of (((Mother of Six))) would go on to form or contribute to other heavy projects — most notably Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, another Wrexham-based outfit that gained international acclaim in the doom/psych scene.

Wrexham stoner band on speed (((Mother Of Six))) single Castell - released 3rd August 2009

While their recorded legacy is modest, the impact of (((Mother of Six))) lives on in Wrexham’s thriving heavy music community — a true cult act for those tuned to the low end.

Global Parasite BANNED

Global Parasite - the anarchist hardcore band from Colwyn Bay have had their latest track Seven Seven banned by the student radio station, University Radio Bath (1449 AM URB). The show in question is Protest Beats (the irony eh!).

DJ, Sam was non too happy and she contacted the band to say this;

"Ello guys I have some bad news lol. Really sorry but I'm not gonna be able to play seven seven tonight. I'm beyond pissed off about it as I spent most of yesterday defending the song and trying to persuade our station manager and program controller to let me play it, but I lost. I literally had the constitution thrown in my face and had points highlighted that apparently conflict with the message of the song. one in particular that I found quite comical was that the song could be construed as 'offensive in the context it is portrayed'. I don't know how many times I told them that the song could not possibly be construed as offensive and that it is our right as citizens of the UK to demand a public inquiry and know what really happened. if the government have nothing to hide they have nothing to lose do they. I also offered to play a disclaimer, something I've never had to do before lol but I feel that I'm going to have to at some point soon as they're clearly listening to what I'm playing now.

But anyways, I can assure you I'll be mentioning this in the show tonight and I'll play the track you sent me last week"

Matt from the band added; 'Further to this we've just been told that her position as head of music next year is now jeopardised after this incident. What the fuck indeed!'

What do you think?

ALBUM REVIEW - Genod Droog – Ni Oedd Y Genod Droog

Tremadog hip-hop band Genod Droog, release their debut album ‘Ni Oedd y Genod Droog’ courtesy of Conwy label Slacyr on 2nd August 2008.

Now, I had long dismissed Welsh hip-hop as a bit of a joke, as much as I tried, I simply could not get my head round the band Pep Le Pew, in my (fake) 2001AD eyes they were laughable, I simply did not understand my ignorance… Pep Le Pew did all the usual Welsh TV, Radio and gig circuit, gaining plaudits along the way until eventually morphing into Genod Droog.

Lo and behold ‘Ni Oedd Y Genod Droog’ hit the streets in 2008 after the outfit spent two years working on it at Blaen-y-Cae; a recording studio situated among the Welsh pyramids and magic mushroom farms of Garndolbenmaen.

Genod Droog, loosely translated means Bad Girls, with a play on the Welsh word ‘drwg’ – meaning ‘bad’ and pronounced droog. This was inspired by the unruly gang of ‘droogs’ in Stanley Kubrick’s infamous 1971 film, A Clockwork Orange, which in turn was based on Anthony Burgess’s dark novel of the same name published in 1962. The Super Furry Animals also referred to the name on their ‘Moog Droog’ EP (Ankst, 1995), which is a play on the Welsh slang for smoking weed (mwg drwg = bad smoke).

As a result of Genod Droog’s energetic performances, their fresh sound and their fun attitude the group became an instant success. In October 2006 they played at The Barfly in Camden, as part of the BBC Electric Proms; and in July 2007 they were the main band at Sesiwn Fawr festival in Dolgellau. The inevitable crowning of their achievements came at the BBC Radio Cymru Rock and Pop Awards in 2007 – Best Live Band and Radio Cymru listeners’ Most Popular Group – and they made regular appearances on S4C’s rock programme, Bandit, during the period.

With ‘Ni Oedd y Genod Droog’ out in the public domain, this mix of melodies, rap and uplifting anthemic dance music was contagiously catchy, and I rate it as one of the finest Welsh language releases ever! The unpredictable nature of their theatrical live shows added excitement, and they managed to create such an impression in a short period of time.

The NME wrote: “If they’re to overcome the maelstrom of hype they’ve generated from the word go, they’re going to have to subvert a few preconceptions… Well, breathe easy…it’s as bold, brilliant and bonkers a pop debut as you’re likely to hear”.

As is with many bands after releasing their debut album, all the effort, the hype and energy expended seemed to take it out of them. Within months of its release Genod Droog announced their disbandment after performing at the Noise Festival, Cardiff. They stated they had come to the end of their journey, feeling that there was no more to achieve as a Welsh-medium group.

Former Kentucky AFC drummer, Gethin Evans went on to play with Yucatan. Vocalist / rapper, Ed Holden soon became world renowned beat-box artist Mr Phormula and Dyl Mei went in the direction of broadcasting and producing for Radio Cymru.

Gwyl Gardd Goll Festival 2008

The beautiful grounds of Glynllifon Park, near Caernarfon, came alive with the sounds of Wales as the Gwyl Gardd Goll Festival with an eclectic lineup of homegrown talent.

Headliner Spotlight: Euros Childs

Topping the bill was none other than Euros Childs, the former frontman of cult band Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. Known for his distinctive blend of whimsical folk and pop melodies, Euros delivered a captivating performance that perfectly encapsulated the spirit of Welsh indie music.

A Diverse Lineup of Welsh Talent

The festival showcased a vibrant mix of artists and bands, including:

• Derwyddon Dr Gonzo, who energized the crowd with their lively ska-infused rock.

• Folk singer-songwriter Gwyneth Glyn, whose heartfelt melodies resonated deeply with the audience.

• Indie-rockers Y Rei, led by Aron Elias, adding a fresh alternative edge.

• Rock-pop fusion from Yucatan, providing catchy and dynamic tunes.

• Experimental noise rock from Denbigh’s Johnny Horizontal (pic below), offering a bold soundscape.

• The mellow indie pop stylings of Sweet Baboo (Stephen Black), adding a laid-back vibe to the day.

• The enchanting harp and vocals of Georgia Ruth Williams, opening the festival with serene beauty.

• Welsh rock-pop group Yr Ods, rounding out the rich sonic palette.

More Than Just Music

Beyond the performances, festival-goers enjoyed a full cultural experience with local food stalls, including Blas ar Fwyd, offering delicious Welsh fare. Organized by the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society), the festival was as much a celebration of Welsh culture and language as it was of music.

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The Gwyl Gardd Goll Festival of 2008 remains a cherished moment in the Welsh music calendar, blending diverse sounds, cultural pride, and community spirit amidst the stunning backdrop of Glynllifon Park.

If you’ve got memories, photos, or stories from the festival, I’d love to hear them!