I was over at Volver Records the other day flipping through the 80s section when the owner John swept into the section and tossed a record on top of it. “This is right up your alley,” he said excitedly. “You’re going to love this, it’s witchy music all sung in Welsh. I love it and bought every copy my distro had and now I don’t know what to do with them all, so take it, it’s yours,” and then he sped off. It’s a high-energy place, that Volver Records. Lots of ideas in the air. And I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – when you find a record store where the people understand your tastes, you have to make it a regular stop.
Looking at the all-green cover with the forest and three women dressed sort of like witches I immediately thought of Iceland’s Kælan Mikla. Now, I know comparisons constitute lazy writing, and even lazy fandom, and I actively try to avoid making them here. But sometimes things come to you that need at least some kind of signpost to help you contextualize, and in this case the comparison is good, though not perfect by any stretch (though “Gelain Gors” could easily be a Kælan Mikla track, with its impassioned vocals). Because I’m not sure anyone sounds like Tristwch Y Fenywod.
Musically the songs convey sensations that are both old and mystical. There’s an element of dungeon synth here in the harkening back to an older time, perhaps an ancient one, when magic was still real and men’s souls were at risk of being corrupted or taken from them, an age of myths and oaths, triumphs and tragedies, all while three Welsh chanteuses wander through space and time, seeing all, hearing all, nudging things in one direction or another. It all comes together most holistically with “Llwydwyrdd”, a light dose of post-punk bass and knocking percussion sprinkled on top of the fey-like strings, the vocals weaving through it all like gold thread. There’s an ethereal quality to it all, mysterious, haunting. The trio sing in Welsh, just adding to the mystery.
Originally released in 2024, my version is the green vinyl re-release from last year. You can stream Tristwch Y Fenywod on their Bandcamp page HERE, but unfortunately neither they nor their label Night School look to still have copies of the vinyl available. Night School, does, however, have it on CD, which you can pick up from them HERE.