A Clean Slate?
Although the influence of the north Wales quarries and their culture - ironically so alien to the quarryowners themselves - has declined rapidly over the last half century, this recent release shows the continuing influence of quarry communities. Rhwng y Llygru a'r Glasu (Between the Ages of Polluting and Renewing,
www.sbensh.com £11.99) is singer-songwriter Gai Toms' first fully fledged solo album. Gai has been prominent in the Welsh rock scene over the last 16 years, first as a leading member of the Blaenau Ffestiniog based Ska Rock band - Anweledig, and his second incarnation as Mim Twm Llai. His latest offering is an eco-concept album, reflecting not only his concerns about the effects of man's industrial activities on his hometown, but also the wider effects of global warming in 'Llosgi' (Burn), homelesness in 'Cardotyn' (Tramp) and waht the future holds for the next generation in 'Fy Mab' (My Son).
The album was mostly self-produced by Gai himself using clean energy at his home in the mountains of north Wales, and it is packaged with recycled material. The musical material ranges from quiet, lyrical acoustic songs to witty musical contradictions suach as inferno blues guitar, backed by a recycled drum kit to create his own unique statements about the world of today and of tomorrow. Once again Gai toms has made an important contribution not only to the Welsh musical scene, but also to much wider social and political debates.
Iwan Llwyd