John Metcalfe announces new album and reveals first track ‘Xylem’
Tree is set for release on vinyl, CD and digitally via Real World Records on 22 September 2023.
Fri, 26 May 23
Noeth
Released 25 April 2019
- Llyn Du (Acoustic)
- Yr Olaf (Acoustic)
- Lliwiau (Acoustic)
- Llwybrau (Acoustic)
Liner notes
9Bach’s music is an atmospheric, evocative hybrid of the Welsh folk tradition and of contemporary influences and working practices. Following three album releases, one of which —Tincian— received the coveted BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Album of the Year, Noeth is an acoustic four track EP performed Lisa Jên and Martin Hoyland. Songs from Tincian and the following album, Anian, are stripped back to their most ethereal and beautiful form. First up is ‘Llyn Du’ —which translates as ‘Black Lake’.
‘Yr Olaf’, isinspired by a photo of Sudan —the last male white rhino— written from the perspective of a poacher, where Lisa is questioning what kind of person wants to destroy such an amazing thing, has pleasure in planting their dagger in leathery skin and enjoys the last glimmer in their eye.
‘Lliwiau’ means colours. It’s a positive outlook on childbirth— all the pain and craziness, the brightly coloured shapes, the tunnel vision, when you close your eyes and the instant love that you feel for this soul that comes out.
‘Llwybrau’ means paths, based on a poem called ‘LLwybrau Unig’ by William Griffiths.
Further Listening
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Released 28 April 2016
‘Anian’ is 9Bach's third album. Like 2014's ‘Tincian’ it begins in North Wales, but broadens out through Greek and Near Eastern influences into an emotional tour de force. Angry, sad, but most of all passionate at the state of the world, the album taps into a truly universal language. -
Released 11 May 2014
9Bach's second album is an atmospheric, emotional record that reflects their home environment of Gerlan, North Wales. The songs on the album are all stories: some of them autobiographical, some are other people's true stories and others imaginary. A hybrid of the Welsh folk tradition, and of contemporary influences and working practices.
Further reading
Sheila Chandra companion listening release: Out in the Real World
Out in the Real World, is a digital-only collection of remixes, demo recordings and outlier tracks.
Wed, 28 June 23
Jocelyn Pook & Akram Khan on reimagining The Jungle Book
BAFTA & Olivier award-winning composer Jocelyn Pook releases Jungle Book reimagined on Real World X.
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Track of the day: ‘We Are Part Mineral’ by Hannah Peel & Paraorchestra
Hannah Peel & Paraorchestra share new single, ‘We Are Part Mineral’, the latest to be taken from...
Fri, 11 March 22