Alternative Psych-Rock band Holy Coves head out on a free entry Welsh Tour of Wales in March to help the Welsh independent music scene during the cost of living crisis. The tour kicks off at The Parish, Wrexham on Thursday 23rd March, followed by Cwrw, Carmarthen on Friday 24th March and the final tour date at Cader Rocks Torrent Walk, Dolgellau on Saturday 25th March. The band will also play an acoustic instore, free entry gig at The Second 45 Record Shop in Llanelli on Saturday 25th March at 1pm, in partnership with Yr Wyddfa Records, Music Scene Wales, Welsh Connections and Cader Rocks.
Thu 23rd March – The Parish, Wrexham.
Fri 24th March – Cwrw, Carmarthen.
Sat 25th March – Cader Rocks Torrent Walk, Dolgellau
* FREE ENTRY *
Sat 25th March – 1pm – The Second 45 Record Shop – Acoustic instore gig
Welsh Alternative Psych Rock band ‘Holy Coves’ have released their brand new music video for single ‘Grey’ via their ever growing new YouTube channel. ‘Grey’ is the third in a series of five music videos created by award winning Ukrainian Filmmaker ‘Taras Merenkov’. Merenkov’s hazy cinematic style of direction really emphasizes the music and makes a formidable visual. ‘Grey’ is taken from the bands acclaimed new album ‘Druids and Bards’ which is out now via Welsh label ‘Yr Wyddfa Records’.
Music Scene Wales has teamed up with Cader Rocks, Yr Wyddfa Records and Pirate Radio Dolgellau to bring you a brand new summer music festival on Saturday the 5th August 2023 at Y Plas in Machynlleth, Mid Wales.
The lineup includes Zebedy, Holy Coves, Square Wild, Celavi, Archetype, Cages for Preachers, Dying Habit, Notora, Billy Hunt and the Modern Classix, El Borracho and Back Yard Devils.
I know many album reviewers like to keep the reader on tenterhooks until the end of the review before the big reveal of how good the piece of work is, but Druids and Bards is an absolutely wonderful record so there is no need for beating around the bush here. We have been treated to a previous Holy Coves album (albeit 15 years ago) we have had four exceptional singles from this album already and we have had half a U.K. tour so you know what you are going to get; a hazy, shoe-gazy whirl of fuzz, packed with emotion and plaintive guitars, layers of sound and an intense man absolutely exposing his soul.
We all know that music can transcend space and time, it has the ability to transport the listener to moments in their own life or evoke feelings of understanding of some truth the writer needs to express. In this way Druids and Bards conjures a sonic soundscape that transports the listener to the realm of Holy Coves; a mystical place separated from the mainland by a narrow rift in the land that is filled with turbulent waters, more than that, Holy coves come from an island off this island; a place twice removed. This place is beautiful and sparse, it can be wild and isolated, the island was once the most important place in Wales, the only place where the native language had a legal status and speakers could defend themselves in court in their native tongue. From the island, the view back across to the mainland is dominated by foreboding snow peaked mountains dotted with castles and fortifications. Scott was formed in the environment and as much as he himself is a force of nature in his own right, we all have to conform to our environment.
Just like the physical land itself, connected to the mainland by a bridge transporting tourist and heavy goods vehicles to the island when the elemental forces allow; this bridge can close when the weather turns tempestuous and the straits become tumultuous, closing the gateway to the land of the Holy Coves. Like the bridge, this album connects Holy Coves to a place and time, it connects the listener to the artist’s deepest thoughts, his very soul like an umbilical. From the opener Away We Go to the closer Taste The Wine (possibly my two personal favourite tracks on the album, although picking favourites here is liking picking favourites on the Verve’s A Storm in Heaven; pointless, just love the album as a whole as it was intended) the record is an absolute joy. It is right to be bookended in this way, Away We Go evokes feelings of eerily hollow euphoria; its a haunting anthem, it draws you in, it makes you want more, foreshadowing the feeling of going on a journey through your headphones. While Taste The Wine is the beautifully evocative metaphorical death knell of the record, it is the end of side two, arrival at the destination. O.K. it might not be an album you would stick on to kick off a Friday night with your mates, but it’s not a maudlin dirgefest either, it is more of a 2am introspection vibe or a road trip on your own so you can just have it in on repeat. For hours. Tracks like Grey sound more upbeat but Scott reminds us to “Let go the feel again, ‘cos everything is hopeless when you’re Grey. Hurt will find you, love will guide you home.” But as is often the case with soulful brilliance and emotionally charged
song writing, the overall effect is one of affirmation, hope redemption and resurrection. It is an album that bares its soul; the good and the bad, and says “I accept it all, I might not like it but it is me, my strengths, my flaws.” The album feels spacious and claustrophobic at the same time, possibly evoking the feeling of living on an island that is off an island that is off an island; but hey, it’s a nice place to visit.
As I said, What an album! 10 out of 10. Go and buy it, stream it, sing it, love it, go and see them live, Come on, Get in, Take two, my friend and AWAY WE GO!
North Wales Psychedelic rock band ‘Holy Coves’ have recently unveiled brand new video for their ‘Desert Storm’ singlewhich was released on Friday 29th of April via prolific North Wales Label ‘Yr Wyddfa Records’.
Dropping swiftly into the slip-stream and following on from the successful ‘The Hurt Within’ which was released last month, ‘Desert Storm’ sets the psych mood with droney riffs, hazy vocals on an epic musical landscape.
Led by Welsh Singer-Songwriter Scott Marsden, ‘Holy Coves’ find themselves crossing an unseen threshold on a fantastical new journey where new psych-hazed material spells an exciting new era for the collective.
Through long time friend and Producer David Wrench, ‘Holy Coves’ were put in touch with Texan Producer Erik Wofford (The Black Angels / Explosions In The Sky) and have built quite a magical working relationship, one where Wofford found himself on Mixing and Mastering duties for the material and certainly contributes to their new sound.
Holy Coves unveil new animated video for ‘The Hurt Within’ directed by acclaimed Ukrainian Animator and Filmmaker Taras Merenkov. It emphasises how art and creativity can still thrive and maintain a positive from a negative situation. Taras added; “Together will win all agressors and dictators!”
Available now across all streaming platforms. Watch here:
Owain Ginsberg (The Heights, We Are Animal) returns with Hippies vs Ghosts 5th album titled ‘Giamocs’ released via Bandcamp.
The Welsh multi-instrumentalist, singer songwriter & producer is on fine form as always, he is easily one of the most consistent song-writers over the past two decades. ‘Giamocs’ oozes class from beginning to end.
Recorded at his home studio in France the record has elements of Can and songs which wouldn’t be out of place on a Quentin Tarantino or Guy Ritchie movie soundtrack, to be fair that would be a poor portrayal of his song-writing because for me his songs are in a different league to any songs that ever appear in these movies.
Owain has an ability that not many other musicians can ever reach. He always manages to capture something which sounds so alive and free, tribal in space! Some of the best melodies and riffs you could never imagine. He really attacks your mind with melodies, its futuristic yet still has the deepest of roots and gets right into your soul.
I’m not the first to say that Owain is a living genius. I’ve heard it said by some of the best names in music over the years.
Welsh post-punk three-piece Adwaith have today announced their eagerly anticipated second album Bato Mato will be released on 1st July via Libertino, following hotly in the footsteps of their trailblazing Welsh Music Prize 2019 debut Melyn.
The band’s memories of speeding through Russia on a trip to perform at UU.Sound in Ulan-Ude, Siberia have seeped into the fabric of their second record and today they also share the first song they wrote after that life changing adventure, ‘ETO’.
Influenced by the Siberian and Mongolian wilderness, as open and vast as the limitless sky around them, ‘ETO’ perfectly captures the trio’s growing confidence with its open-hearted soaring melody’s and lyrical vulnerability.
“We really wanted to write a heartfelt song about being infatuated with someone.” explain the band, “This isn’t something we normally write about and we wanted to approach this song differently to our other ones. We felt inspired to write a big pop song.”
I wasn’t expecting by only the third month of 2022 that we would have so much amazing new Welsh music already released. It’s not that I don’t already know how much talent we have out there in Wales, but to capture brilliance on a record is completely different!! Swansea based band Bandicoot have just gone and done that and released one of the albums of the year for me. It’s sheer class from beginning to end, it’s easy to raise comparisons to Gorkys & Race Horses (already a huge compliment!) but that would really be a lazy critique of something which ventures so much further than both these bands put together. For me its got everything, I love how they leave the door open to so many more possibilities and you can’t completely lock them down to a specific genre. There are so many great influences on this record. I can hear psychedelia, pop, alternative rock and a bit of 90’s nostalgia. it has everything, Its a very cleverly thought out record. Moments remind me of old school Radiohead, grooves like Can then melodies of a My Bloody Valentine record run through a song! I love the energy, the drive, the melodies and most importantly I love the vocals and what Rhys Underwood sings about, I believe what he says and at the same time don’t have to take it too serious. He transports me to a head space where I can listen to him clearly, understand him completely and still enjoy listening to the music. I think its the cross over into alternative which really sets them apart from other bands I’ve listened to over the years. But whatever genre they cross over into I think it’s important to remember that Bandicoot are a band who excite me. Without a doubt this has to be nominated for a Welsh Music Prize. Along with Buzzard Buzzard Buzzards debut these are the two best records to come out of Wales so far this year!! LETS REMEMBER ITS ONLY MARCH!!! Personally this would be my pick between the two. Really looking forward to watching this band mature over the years and I’m already excited about the follow up record.
Cardiff Rock band Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard released their debut album Back Hand Deals last month and it’s absolutely buzzing!! Whoever said ‘They don’t make rock bands like they used to’ must listen to this record. My introduction to the bands music last week was by a friend who said these exact words “Whoever said they don’t make bands like they used to is talking shit!! Have you heard the new Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard album? Its buzzing!!!” I must admit at first I was sceptical, especially because I’ve not heard the word ‘buzzing’ in a sentence since the nineties! Back Hand Deals is a phenomenal record. This is as old school brilliant as you can get. Go listen to this record today.
Indie Revolution 