Tag: Dai Jeffries

I can’t quite understand why I get all the Welsh language albums – I was born in Hertfordshire (although that wasn’t my fault). Not that I mind, of course, Welsh is such a beautiful language to listen to. Dadeni (Renaissance) is the second album by Pedair, four singers and instrumentalists: Gwenan Gibbard, Gwyneth Glyn, Meinir Gwilym and Siân James. They are supported by Aled Wyn Hughes (who co-produced with the band), Gwilym Bowen Rhys, Patrick Rimes, Osian Hugh Williams and Gwern ap Gwyn and if you have any interest in traditional Welsh music you’ll recognise those names.

Listening casually first time round it struck me that I shouldn’t think of Dadeni as an album of Welsh songs but an album of songs that happen to be in a language that isn’t English. There is a variety of styles sung in beautiful harmony tackling contemporary issues – just like any other serious album.

Take the opening track, ‘Rŵan Hyn’ (Right Now). In translation, the key line might be “the line so clear/between lies and the truth”, both a look back and an attempt to see the future, riding on acoustic guitar and keyboards. I should say that the sleeve is not terribly helpful to non-Welsh speakers but Pedair’s website will furnish all you need to know. ‘Haul Ac Awel’, led by harp is a more traditional sounding song with another pretty tune. ‘Golomen Wen’ (White Dove) is a sweetly harmonised plea for peace in the world and I can think of a dozen or more writers who would express the same sentiments.

My favourite track is probably ‘Dos â Hi Adra’, a deeply sad song about despair and attempted suicide incongruously decorated with a doo-wop chorus. It shouldn’t work but it does. ‘Galw d’enw Di’ seems like a sequel with a more positive point of view – beautiful acoustic guitar and harp providing an unfussy accompaniment until the four voices soar together. ‘Cartref’ tells of the joys of home, ‘Y Môr’ philosophises about the sea and ‘O Blwy’ Llanrwst’ is a modern reading of a traditional song – the story of a young man who leaves the parish of Llanrwst and goes to live in India for reasons which are unclear even to the singers.

‘Rho Dy Alaw’ is another nostalgic song, this time about the power of music with a suitably jolly instrumental break while ‘Machlud a Gwawr’ is a song of the night. The poet Dewi Morris, who died last year, wrote ‘Dŵr, Halen a Thân’ (Water, Salt And Fire) given a solemn arrangement that shows off the women’s vocal talents and, finally, ‘Cerrig Mân’ is a song about grief which essentially says that it’s the small stones that bring you down, not the big rocks.

I’ve said this before and I’ll continue to say it: don’t fret about the language “problem” just listen to and enjoy a beautiful album like Dadeni. It will brighten your day.

Dai Jeffries

Artists’ website: www.pedair.cymru

‘Y Môr’ – official video;