Ca' Nôs - Fernhill [1996]

Fernhill arrive fully formed with grown up 90s debut. Julie Murphy, vocals; Andy Cutting, button accordionist extraordinaire; Ceri Rhys Matthews, plays cittern, lute, clarinet, and Pastoral oboe; Jonathan Shorland, Welsh flautist not unacquainted with music and musicians of Brittany. More mainstream, less compelling fare would follow but Ca' Nôs gets the balance right between musicianship and rough around the edges energy. A mix of Welsh, Breton, and English, ranging from romantic ballads to dance songs. Hypnotically pentangléd version of Banks of the Nile a stand out.

oddi wrth y brawd

flashing into the dark

Le Meilleur De Tri Yann - Tri Yann [1998]

Veteran 70s folk rock stalwarts Tri Yann serve up thirty years of Breton Celtic roistering on  1998 compilation. Hardly breaking new ground nor likely to win new converts but solid, satisyfing fare all the same.

Oddi wrth y brawd

three johns of nantes

Gwerz Penmarc'h - Sonerien Du

Bombardes, berets and a brace of Breton beards.

Oddi wrth y brawd

llydaweg

Chemins De Terre - Alan Stivell

Guest post by Pastaman Vibration (Yeah!):

Track for track his best and most diverse album, head and shoulders above most folk-rock schlock from the early 70s. Bombardes, bagpipes and near metal riffing, as well as Stivell's usual spiritually uplifting harp-centred celtic roots music. Unfortunately, I lost my cherished vinyl copy when flooded a few years back...

Y brawd adds:

Gyda un cân mewn Cymraeg.

Oddi wrth y brawd

when the levee breaks