Matthew Frederick - Laura Jones

Back in March when "the event" was starting to ramp up, I went out and bought a bucket load of albums from artists I was less familiar with on a whim in order to have enough new music to see me through the next few months. There were a few great artists and albums that I got my metaphorical teeth into during that time - Elma Orkestra, Porridge Radio & The Lost Brothers being some of the artists whose albums helped to keep me sane during this strange, strange time. 

But of all the albums, the one that I enjoyed the most was "Fragments", the debut solo album from Welsh singer-songwriter Matthew Frederick, who had been nominated for the Welsh Music Prize with his band Climbing Trees. "Fragments" is a great, pastoral album, a thing of beauty that gets better and deeper with every listen. 

The song that I enjoyed the most from the album was "Laura Jones", which stands out from the rest of the tracks with its pop-orientated sound compared to the more folksy sound of the rest of the album. It's a tale of a long-lost teenage love that will have you singing along to the chorus for days on end. To coincide with its release as a single, Matthew Frederick has offered anyone whose name is Laura Jones a free download of the single, so whilst it might not be worth getting married or changing your name by deed poll for (but only just), it is well worth getting if you happen to be blessed with said name. And if not, the album & song are well worth paying for regardless.

"Laura Jones" is taken from the album "Fragments", which is out now on various formats on Staylittle Music.

Memory Clinic - Gentle Neglect

It's always nice to feature a song from a band hailing from a place we've never covered before. On this occasion, the song comes courtesy of Memory Clinic, who hail from the Welsh town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll (population just over 3000). "Gentle Neglect" is a slice of dreamy late 80s/early 90s inspired indie-rock, underpinned by a rather nice guitar riff and overall feeling that evokes Stone Roses and Jesus & Mary Chain from that time, as well as more contemporary bands like Deerhunter and Jaws. As simple and elegant as one would like their dreamy guitar-rock to be like.

"Gentle Neglect" is available to purchase now.

Fjords - Polymath

Have you ever found yourself pining for the fjords? Well fear not, parrot fans, because today we bring them to you. Cardiff 5-piece Fjords already have a few plaudits to their name, being named Best Unsigned Band at the Best of British Unsigned Music Awards last year, and their alleged fans include the Manic Street Preachers and the most expensive footballer of all time, Gareth Bale (whom I am reliably informed is almost as good a player as Dion Dublin).

Having now signed to a label, the band are due to release their upcoming single "Polymath". If you're a fan of the indie-dance sound of contemporaries like Two Door Cinema Club, but find them a little bit too chirpy, then this might be your cup of tea, as a dark, icy undercurrent runs right through this rather infectious tune.

"Polymath" will be released on 1st March.


Photo is Ⓒ Owen Mathias

Trwbador - Red Handkerchiefs

Unlike some people, I have no qualms about artists letting their music be used in advertisements. Although there is still a stigma around a band 'selling out' by allowing their songs to be used to flog whatever the kids are buying these days, the benefits far outweigh the negatives, especially if the band is not a household name. As well as the paycheck, which could be enough to keep some artists doing what they love for longer, the exposure that the song creates could lead to raised awareness of the band, more sales of their back catalogue, and bigger and better gig opportunities. The one occasion where I wouldn't be happy with an artist licencing their songs would be if they allowed it to be used to advertise products that go against what the band stand for. I wouldn't expect to see a band with impeccable environmental credentials letting their song be used in an ad for a 37-seater hatchback for example. And although the devilish side of me would love to see "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" used in an advert for KFC, I very much doubt that Morrissey would ever approve that license. 

Which leads me on to an act that I only would have discovered through the power of the synch. Whilst watching my latest dose of TV on a legitimate streaming site, I came across an irresistible little piece of music being used in an advert for an alcoholic beverage. Intrigued by the song, I carried out some extensive research (by which I mean I asked everyone on social networking sites if they knew what the song was), and discovered the song was "Red Handkerchiefs", by Trwbador, an electric/acoustic duo hailing from Wales. The song itself is a wonderfully refreshing one. Beginning with layered vocals from Angharad Van Rijswijk, the song builds up into a cacophony of pure loveliness, with acoustic guitars, glockenspiel and scratchy samples aplenty, before taking a slight diversion into sub-bass for the last minute. It is a well constructed song that really stands out as something different yet brilliant. 

The song is taken from their self-titled debut album, the Welsh Music Award nominated "Trwbador", which is out now.

Thanks to Eoin of Best Boy Grip for letting me know what song was used in the advert. To read someone else's opinion on having music used in adverts, check out the thoughts of J.Willgoose Esq. of Public Service Broadcasting.

Casi Wyn - Winter

Hailing from Bangor in Wales, Casi Wyn has recently released her debut E.P, the folk-pop influenced "1". Although the majority of the E.P is sung gorgeously in Welsh, her native tongue, the final track on the E.P, "Winter", is sung entirely in English. Ironically enough, it is also the strongest song on the record, and the one which deserves to reach the largest possible audience.

"Winter" is a track which is largely electronically produced, yet at the centre is something wholly organic. This is largely down to Casi Wyn's beautiful voice, one which is both vulnerable and powerful in equal measures. The song is a mix similar to the style of Ellie Goulding, Loreen and Bat For Lashes, and fans  of any of those artists will find much to love here.

"Winter" features on her E.P "1", which is out now.

Catfish and The Bottlemen - Homesick

Hailing from Llandudno in Wales, Catfish and The Bottlemen are not the sort of group one would expect to be signed to Communion Records, the home of Ben Howard and Michael Kiwanuka. For the group seem to like their music a little bit louder, if debut single "Homesick" is anything to go by.

The song is firmly in the anthemic mode, building from a serene beginning into a chorus that just demands to be shouted back by the group's fans at their gigs. The song sits somewhere between U2 and some of the rockier moments from Stereophonics, which isn't a bad thing indeed.

It's an incredibly confident debut single from a band who are still in their teens. Just don't let their ridiculous name get in the way of your enjoyment.

"Homesick" will be released on June 17th.

Sion Russell Jones - So Long

"So Long" is a song so drenched in the American folk tradition that its somewhat hard to believe that the song's performer, Sion Russell Jones, is actually from Cardiff. The track combines elements of Elliott Smith, Bon Iver, Radical Face, and a little bit of Paul Simon to create a song with gorgeous harmonies, unconventional rhythms, and a chorus that veers firmly into uplifting territory.

"So Long" is taken from Sion Russell Jones' self-titled E.P, which will be released on June 10th.