Some great music has been coming out of the Celtic nations
over the past twelve months. Of course, Ireland and Scotland are celebrated for
a vibrant music scene, Wales perhaps less so. My eye – and, more to the point, my ears
– have been caught by three recent little gems: a debut album by Scottish
singer/songwriter
Graeme Armstrong (guitarist from the band
Talisk,)
the eighth studio album from Irish singer/songwriter
John Blek and a new
album from Welsh trio
Plu.
First, to Graeme Armstrong’s stunning You Are
Free. Graeme takes traditional songs like ‘Isle of France,’ ‘Fine
Flowers in the Valley’ and ‘My Son David’ and presents them in fresh
arrangements with nice touches of synth and electric guitar, without losing the
deep roots of these songs. Alongside the traditional – and songs by writers
like Dick Gaughan and Karine Polwart – Graeme includes some moving original songs
of his own such as the title track, ‘William’s Song’ and ‘Sit Alone’ (which
features a hip guitar sound reminiscent of the American band Beach House.) But
it’s Graeme’s sensitive version of Karine Polwart’s ‘Waterlily’ that stopped me
in my tracks. The original is moving enough but Graeme’s version seems even
more poignant.
Next up is
John Blek’s
Until The Rivers Run Dry.
I’m not sure
how this amazing Cork-based singer/songwriter has
recorded seven previous albums without me hearing about him, but I’m certainly
listening now. The press release suggested John’s music shows the influence of
Paul McCartney and Scott Walker but I wasn’t quite getting those flavours. In
fact, trying to find points of reference for John’s sound started to drive me
slightly mad – it’s so original and refreshing. There seem to be distant echoes
of much older artists like Roy Orbison, a hint of Harry Nilsson, a touch of the
melodic pop of the mid-1980s (Danny Wilson? The Dream Academy?) and even a nod
to the wistful balladry of the Irish band Bagatelle.
The songwriting could come from an earlier era – the days of
Clifford T Ward or Mike Hugg or even Dan Fogelberg – strong, unfussy, 'hooky',
perfect. I love John's effortless vocals, the varied arrangements and the
instrumentation. The opening track ‘St John’s Eve’ should – in any normal world
– be a number-one hit with its luscious string arrangement and baritone guitar
sound. ‘Lovelorn’ (and the title track) are beautiful melodies that could have
been Gene Pitney hits in a parallel universe. If, like me, you were unaware of
John Blek, it’s time you caught up with him.
Finally, to Wales for Caernarfonshire trio
Plu with
their fourth album
Tri. Plu (meaning ‘feathers’ in Welsh) are siblings
Elan, Marged and Gwilym Rhys. They describe their music as “alternative Welsh-language
pop-folk” and have appeared at both Glastonbury and Green Man Festival. The
guitar playing and vocals are impressive in their clarity and purity and the
music ranges across the spectrum of folk, Americana and pop – all sung in Welsh.
It’s quite a laid-back affair, more suited to a quiet evening at home rather
than as an accompaniment to driving with all the windows down. As with John
Blek, I spent quite a while trying to think who Plu reminded me of – and then I
got it. On ‘Ben i Waered,’ and on opening track ‘Dinistrio Ni’ especially, they
sound uncannily like a Welsh version of The Mamas and the Papas – and maybe
that’s exactly what the world needs now.
Links:
Graeme Armstrong You Are Free (Graeme
Armstrong Records)
John Blek Until The Rivers Run Dry (We
Are Rats Recordings)
Plu Tri (Sbrigyn Ymborth)
