Review: Trwbador – Trwbador

Published on November 27th, 2012 | Jonny Abrams

Rocksucker was switched onto Welsh duo Trwbador by their presence on Cornershop‘s utterly splendid Christmas single “Every Year So Different”, and it turns out they have a similarly marvellous debut album on the way. Hurrah!

Angharad Van Rijswijk’s creepily childlike vocals will be a challenge for some, but they’re so ideally suited to this otherworldly mix of buzzing electro and acoustic fingerpicking that those seeking a transcendental experience will be rewarded. Flitting between English and Welsh language lyrics, Van Rijswijk’s captivating turns weave ghostly shapes through Owain Gwilym’s nocturnal, tangential soundscapes, establishing a sort of ‘enchanted forest’ atmosphere that comes to the fore particularly on the Nick-Drake-meets-Gorky’s-Zygotic-Mynci-ness of “Lluniau”, the chopped-up guitar chords and siren-like humming of “Eira”, and the “All Tomorrow’s Parties”-recalling ancient battle cry of “Sun in the Winter”.

Elsewhere, “Red Handkerchiefs” veers towards Bjork territory with its strange vocables before taking an about-turn into gorgeous classical guitar progressions, “Drws” and “Mountain” had Rocksucker jotting down the descriptions ‘wailing absurdity’ and ‘squelchy rapture’ respectively, while curtain-closer “The Magical Glasses” provides just over a minute’s worth of felty synth and swirling soundscapey loveliness.

An excellent start, then, and we shall endeavour to find out more with one of those interview-type thingies we like to do with bands we like.

Rocksucker says: Four Quails out of Five!

a quail a quail a quail a quail

For more information, please visit trwbador.co.uk

Artists: trwbador

About the Author

Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.