Howl Griff's debut album is a collection of psychedelic, garage band style pop songs with a difference, as the band elected to sing them in their native Welsh tongue. This is a logical thing to do as the Welsh have their own language and are not obliged to speak English, but it is seldom used in the wider world of pop or rock, so for a lot of people, this is a new listening experience.
'Hedd nod' blasts off in fine style with scratchy rythmn guitar and pumping bass supporting a great catchy melody and vocals. The pace continues with 'Grisial clir' and it's jangly Rickenbacker guitar lines.The pace changes with 'Chwalu mir Berlin', from it's gentle acoustic intro it gradually builds into another big anthemic number. 'Mae'n rhaid i newid ddod' evolves from a simple octave guitar riff into a lushly arranged chorus.
The band's sound is that of updated garage/psych, the guitars have that scratchy 'on the edge of distortion' sound, there is subtle use of the classic Farfisa organ sound. The main vocals fit in very well, but the backing vocals in the choruses etc. provide massive aural lifts along with subtle synth lines that are very much a highlight of the listening experience. The songwriting and song arrangements are first class, the songs have great melodic twists and turns to keep your attention and there is not a single dud track on this album.
The fact that you are hearing a whole album in what might be a very unfamiliar language should not present a problem, as the world is getting smaller these days and we are exposed more and more to bands from all over the world who feel happier expressing their lyrical message in their mother tongue rather than fall in line and sing in the universal language of rock 'n' roll, so don't be lazy, get used to it and enjoy it!!
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