Third
instalment of exploratory instrumental Prog from Wales' celebrated
spacerockers!
Here on the flat
mud-banks of the east coast, we're about as far from West Wales as
it's possible to be on Britain's main landmass, both in terms of
distance and landscape. That may be why each time I've spent time in
that beautiful country I've come home with my batteries spiritually
re-charged. The combination of hills, valleys, clean(er) Atlantic
air, rich folklore and a less-toxic national pride inspires and
impresses me each time. All these things feed into the music that's
made there too of course. Those teenage years spent listening to John
Peel spin the latest record from Datblygu opened my ears to a seam
that grew richer as more musicians came to my attention. Be it the
Cool Cymru of the Manics, SFA et al, the gentle psych of Gorky's and
CaStLeS, or the acid-folk of Meic Stevens, it was clear that Welsh
music at its best had that elusive “it”.
All of which brings me
to this new outing from Sendelica. It's the third in their series of
improvised get-togethers. For the “Cromlech Chronicles” sessions
the band de-camp to Mwnci Studios in West Wales for two days of
playing, improvising and recording. The results then released by the
mighty Fruits de Mer label. I've written about a couple of previous
Sendelica records, their 7” tributes to Frank Zappa and DavidBowie. Without the restrictions of interpreting someone else's songs
their muse is free to take flight in whatever direction it chooses.
Over the six tracks on Chromlech Chronicles III we're treated
to ambient textures, soothing sax-led loveliness, and some harder
edged prog-rock (opening track 'BS'). Taken as a whole there's a
meditative quality that mirrors both the physical surroundings as
well as the musicians' mindset, one of freedom, open possibility and
a willingness to enter into the mystic.
As always with Fruits
de Mer Records plenty of thought has gone into how the physical
product is presented. Three being the magic number here. Chromlech
Chronicles III comes on three pieces of 10” vinyl (coloured of
course). Then there's the 3D sleeve and accompanying 3D glasses. It's
a welcome addition to the Welsh music canon.
**The band will be
playing at the Sixteenth Dream of Dr. Sardonicus Festival in
Cardigan, August 3rd-5th!**
Click here for
Sendelica.
Click here for Sendelica guitarist Pete
Bingham on Twitter.
Click here for
Sendelica on Facebook.
Click here for Fruits
de Mer Records.
