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!
For more information, please visit trwbador.co.uk