With something of an Irish language revival underway, our Celtric brethren held on preciously to their mother tongue, with the language still widely spoken and understood across the small Celtic nation.
Often it is the creative and artistic community that drive and deliver such endeavours, and with his fifth album titled ‘Aden’, Gwilym Bowen Rhys offers a beautifully crafted album that even though you may not understand the words, the universal language of music means it speaks in the clearest of tones and textures.
The North Wales folk singer blends his original compositions and traditional songs with folk, bluegrass and sweeping, sweet orchestral baroque influences.
Folk music in any language is never a far cry from the roots we share with the land – and that’s what seeps to the surface – an album of rich, earthy texture, deepn and resonant as the opening moments of ‘Coed Glyn Cynon’ – it’s like the land is coming alive and I loved that.
Gwilymn’s incredible voice is deep gravelly and enigmatic – it can range from a deep resonance to jaunty and all the other emotions intertwined. As I say, I may not understand the words, but I can get the gist. Music is like that – melody crosses all borders.
‘Aden’ brings to life ancient Welsh lyrics and melodies – it’s as if the speech of the ancestors is reaching up and talking in tongues. In fact, Gwilym has long established himself as a respected ambassador for Welsh language and song across Wales and beyond.
In fact he’s already chalked many awards and accolades including Best Solo Artist in the Welsh Folk Awards and a nomination for Folk Singer o the Year Award in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. He has performed across the gloe with the BBC National Orchestra Of Wales – from Paris to Buenos Aires.
Gwilym is joined on this album by Gwen Màiri (lever harp/triple harp/harmonium), Patrick Rimes (fiddle, viola, harmonium, trombone), Ailsa Mair (Viola da Gamba).
If there’s such a thing as a Wall of Sound in Welsh, this is it.