Pixy Jones - I'm Not There / And Your Bird Can Sing

Welsh psych maestro releases a solo single. With a full-length album to follow in September.

A recent release that's getting heavy rotation on my Spotify account is this two track single by Pixy Jones. Lead track 'I'm Not There' is a strong dose of lysergic psych-pop, laced with tremelo guitars, reedy organs and harmony vocals. It comes backed with a bass-heavy dub version of The Beatles 'And Your Bird Can Sing'. Search it up psych fans! (Or listen below via the super handy embed).

Who is Pixy Jones I hear you ask? Turns out the fella has form. As guitarist/songwriter with El Goodo he helped make the band's Zombie album such a hugely enjoyable listening. Both the Zombie album and the new solo single are released courtesy of Strangetown Records, a label run by Cian and Daf from Super Furry Animals. 

If you like what you hear you'll be pleased to know that Pixy Jones is set to release a full length LP called Bits n Bobs on 16th September. Judging by its cover and the strength of this single, I reckon it will be one of the year's must-hear albums.

Soft Hearted Scientists - Please Read me (Ltd. colour 7")

Back and on form! New coloured vinyl 7” from Cardiff's top psych-popsters!

“Happiness comes in small doses.” It's a quote that has stuck in the back of my mind since I first heard it on a televised comedy show in the 1990s, uttered by famous philosopher Denis Leary. While his comedy may have dated the sentiment holds true, happiness does indeed come in small doses and fleeting moments. Leary said it comes via a cigarette, a chocolate chip cookie or a five second orgasm. You no doubt have your own personalised list you can add to that. For me it's 7” singles, psychedelic pop with catchy melodies, and knowing that your favourite musicians continue to make happening music.

So my quota of small doses has been topped up by this forthcoming single from Soft Hearted Scientists. The band have had a bit of a break to pursue other projects, with frontman Nathan Hall remaining most noticeably active with Nathan Hall & The Sinister Locals. The return of Soft Hearted Scientists is something of a surprise but a very welcome one. For the single's A-side they've covered an early classic by The Bee Gees'. 'Please Read Me' appeared on The Bee Gees' first LP back in 1967 and is given a superb and sympathetic reading here, the band making it their own.

Soft Hearted Scientists' reputation as prolific songwriters is bolstered by the single's flipside 'Moths Mistook Us For The Moon', a gentle number with pizzicato strings and lyrics that merge nuanced psychedelic observations with ordinary and everyday experiences. It's good to have the band back.

Click here for Soft Hearted Scientists' website.

Click here for Soft Hearted Scientists on Facebook.

Click here for Fruits de Mer Records.

Sendelica - Cromlech Chronicles III

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.

CaStLeS

(This first appeared in issue #67 of Shindig! magazine.)

Three musicians, one static caravan and a 16-track portastudio. Mix together in the Snowdonian hills and see what happens. Duncan Fletcher finds out.


Though their sound has mutated since brothers Cynyr and Dion Hamer started making music as CaStLeS in 2008, an alchemy has been achieved by bringing in new member Calvin Thomas and swapping instrumental roles. The trio's brand of soft psych-pop can be heard on latest single 'Foresteering' which is taken from their similarly titled debut LP Fforesteering. It's an album full of charmingly melodic lo-fi delights.

There's something about the album's predominately Welsh language vocals that adds to the psychedelic appeal - “Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the Welsh language is so mysterious in some ways” muses Cynyr, “There are very few people that understand and speak the language, so maybe when people hear it they are drawn by the mysticism, which is what psychedelia does to you really.”

Like their previous 'PartDepart' EP, Fforesteering was recorded on a Zoom 16-track portastudio in a static caravan at Cynyr's home in the Snowdonian hills. “Most of the songs were written there as well,” says Dion, “and the surrounding wilderness is what inspired the concept of the songs for the EP and album, so in a way it's all been one big site-specific project, using the surroundings as a subject, it almost comes across as a human character at times.” Cynyr adds “I live in the caravan so it's very convenient to have a home studio where we can get straight into recording after arriving home from work. It's a cool place to record, being on top of a hill and having great views for inspiration.”

Though natural beauty inspires them, the shared joy in making music is equally important - “The concept of escapism can exist anywhere... you can pretty much find anywhere to get away from it all,” explains Calvin, “but music in itself is a way to escape.”

 
Fforesteering is available now from www.castlesofficial.com

(Click over the jump for the full unpublished Q&A)

Bendith - Bendith

(This review first appeared in issue 61 of Shindig! magazine.)

 

Agati CD

Top session guitarist and Colorama mainman Carwyn Ellis teams up with family harmonists Plu for this short but charming suite of Welsh language folk. Bendith means blessing in Welsh, a fitting title for a band and album that pays homage to family and fond childhood memories of time spent in Carmarthenshire. This is most notable on lead single 'Dannybanc', named after the home of Ellis' grandparents.

This firmly-rooted sense of place permeates the album with the sparse, subtle arrangements and acoustic instrumentation allowing the Plu siblings' voices to take centre stage. Elan, Marged and Gwilym Rhys' three-part harmonies are haunting, beautiful and mysterious, helping make the album into the perfect Sunday morning soundtrack

Minimalist and easy on the ear, this delightful modern folk will be of particular interest to those resident in west Wales, but will resonate further afield with anyone with open ears willing to give it a chance.

The 14th Dream of Dr. Sardonicus – August 5th-7th in Cardigan, West Wales

Fruits de Mer's annual extravaganza in west Wales! This summer's hot ticket!

Good ol' Fruits de Mer know how to turn an unbearably strange summer into one that's actually enjoyable. Anyone wishing to escape Brexit and and Donald Trump for a few days should head over to Cardigan in lovely west Wales for the annual FDM-run festival.

Acts appearing include Twink & The Fairies, Vibravoid, The Electric Stars, Sendelica, Soft Hearted Scientists and our good friend Ted Selke (Seventh Ring Of Saturn). There'll be vinyl goodie bags on the Saturday and Sunday too. What better chance to hang out with like minded people and hear some great music!

Along with the live apprearances, quizes and general good vibes, each attendee will receive three free CDs featuring tracks compiled by Fruits de Mer. The CDs feature bands playing at the festival along with a globe-straddling array of new and old favourites. Tickets are limited to 150 only and will no doubt sell out. What are you waiting for?!

Click here to purchase tickets online.

Click here for the Fruits De Mer Records website.