Graeme Armstrong, John Blek and Plu - new music from Scotland, Ireland and Wales

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)