reviews
albums
ANDREW PAUL REGAN ****
Dinas Powys (self-released)
To say that Cardiff-based APR is a busy man
is an understatement, with his demanding
job, being part of Local Sports Team... oh, and
he’s started a family! Now comes his new solo
offering. Dinas Powys is a hybrid of ambient/
folk/punk/experimental (or “cubist folk” as he
terms it), intelligent lyrics and an impressive
array of strings, keys and bleeps means it’s
forever engaging, Time Crisis, 1982 is one of the
standout tracks, although be warned, they’re all
standout tracks really. JE
CATE LE BON ****
Mug Museum (Turnstile)
Arguably one of Cardiff’s favourite daughters
is back a mere 12 months after her sophomore
effort CYRK and it’s still quite clear what sets
her apart from the rabble of contemporary Welsh
indie/folk artists. Whilst her music does, indeed,
contain the obligatory jangly, psychedelic quality
so prevalent in Welsh indie music over the past
few decades there’s a catchy, soothing and
enjoyable – albeit dark and atmospheric – edge
evident which absolutely elevates Le Bon above
her peers. Certainly worth a look. JS
CLIMBING TREES ****
Hebron (self-released)
A heartfelt debut
from this Pontypridd
five-piece, recorded at
Carmarthen’s Mwnci
Studios and involving the
ever-important growing
of beards. It’s mostly a
reflective, acoustic affair with folk influences,
although also put to good use are elements of
gospel (Burning Candle), and melancholic indie
(Happen) and (Setting Sun). The musicianship
is faultless, with the album even finding time to
showcase a solo piano closer (Nos). Their BBC
Introducing Band Of The Week accolade this
year from BBC Radio Wales was much deserved.
RH
CONNAN MOCKASIN **
Caramel (Phantasy)
Mockasin, looking
uncannily like a young
Boris Johnson on the )?????????????)???????????????)????????????????)???????????????e?)?????????????????????e??????????????????)??????????????????Q??????????????)???????????????????????
???????????)1??????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????????????)%??????????e??????????????????????)???????????????????????????????????????)5??????I??????????-?????????????????)?????????e?A??????????????e?????????)???????
???????
L()?5=\??)]?????]?????a???)Q??????????????????????????????)????????$???????e??????????????????????????)??????????????????????????????U??????????)???????5????????????????????????????)????????????L?????????????????Q?????????)??????????????????????????????????)?????????'?e?????????????????????????) Uih???()????????????????????????????????????)]?????]???????????????????????????????)???????e???????????????????????????I ()QI=8?????)5????=??5?????5????5???)%?e?????????????)?????M???????????)???????????????e?)??????????? ?????)??????????????e?)???????????????????)?????????????????)?????????????????????????!???????1??)?????????
????????M???Q???????1??)M???????????????????????????????Q??????)??????????????????????????? ???]????????) ?????5?????????????????????????????????)??????e????????????UM@????????????????)????????????????????????I () 9Q15;?eL?U?
1U?????)=UI??=UH??I???????)Q???????????)=UI??=UH??????)????????????????) ????????e???
??)?????????????????????)????????????????)???????????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????e????????)?????????????????????????????????????)????????????
????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????????????????????)??????????????94() U%