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Lleuwen



Last Updated: 12/2/2009

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Status: Single
City: Douarnenez
State: Bretagne
Country: FR
Signup Date: 2/27/2006

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Monday, November 12, 2007 

Current mood:  bouncy

Acoustic Magazine
The second release from acclaimed Welsh jazz/folk singer Lleuwen. This is unique. The setting of songs sung in Europe's oldest continuously spoken language in a modern jazz idiom is startling. For someone who grew up with Welsh non-conformity Lleuwen's interpretation of Anne Griffith's 'Rhosyn Saron' is as shocking as anything as anything the Sex Pistols recorded (though for different reasons). An amazing album.

Jazzwise Magazine - **** (4 seren / stars)
Like the sound of an 11-track collection sung entirely in Welsh, inspired by the Anglesey landscape? Franky neither did I until Lleuwen's remarkable Penmon slowly drip-feeded its way into my consciousness. You may have come across the singer songwriter already, either as a member of the band Acoustique or for her much lauded 2005 album with Huw Warren and Mark Lockheart. From the Welsh speaking heartlands of north Wales, and successfully mining a range of influences from Ella to Joni to Welsh hymnody, Penmon (named after her Anglesey home) ranges from the most tender lyricism to enchanting flights of passion. Beginning with the gentle lapping of waves, distant cry of a seabird, and a circular soprano sax riff calling out into the firmament, the opener 'Pererinion' is the perfect scene-setter. Featuring minimal, and always discreet, accompaniment, an album of standouts includes the impossibly pure and ethereally beautiful 'Dy Gynnal Di', the seraphic choral harmonies of 'Bore Sadwrn', the gorgeous piano/vocal 'Rhosyn Saron' and the more impassioned delivery and irresistible backbeat of 'Wyt ti Yna?'. Once heard, you can't help but fall under the singer's spell. File under: leftfield classic.


Guardian - *** (3 seren / stars, Robin Denselow)
Best known for her highly original treatment of Welsh hymns with pianist Huw Warren, Lleuwen Steffan is one of the more quirkily intriguing singers on the new Welsh music scene. This latest set, inspired by her home in Penmon, Anglesey, sees her covering her own charmingly breathy songs, while exploring a variety of different styles. She's best when at her most straightforward, with her quietly soulful but gently dramatic and theatrical songs backed by Warren's accordion and piano. Elsewhere, some of the production work is both unnecessary and heavy handed but she does manage to constantly surprise, from a jaunty song like 'Daear a Haul' to the sudden appearance of a male voice choir on the final track. She deserves a wider following, but mysteriously seems to be aiming almost exclusively at the Welsh market. Those trying to find a translation of her lyrics or sleevenotes should search through her website.


Y Cymro (Colofn Ian Cottrell) 08-06-07
Dwi di bod yn gwrando ar albwm drosodd a throsodd am y ddau ddiwrnod diwetha'. Mae gen i abyms dwi dal heb wrando arnyn nhw mewn pentwr ar ben y stereo sy di bod yno ers cyn 'Dolig. Ma' nhw jyst yn eistedd yno yn hel llwch achos nes i brynu nhw a dwi wir ddim efo'r angen i wrando arnyn nhw. Dwi'n gwybod nawn nhw ddim newid fy mywyd felly am y tro gawn nhw aros. Ond wythnos ddiwetha' ges i gopi o albwm newydd Lleuwen - mae hi 'di gollwng y 'Steffan', a la Lulu, Kylie a Caryl -fydd yn cael ei lawnsio wythnos i heddiw (y 16eg) yn y Galeri yng Nghaernarfon.

Hwn oedd yr ail gopi i mi dderbyn. Ychydig fisoedd yn ol nath Lleuwen yrru copi o fersiynau bras o'r caneuon i mi eu clywed, gyda nodyn bach yn ei llawysgrifen yn gofyn i mi wrando arnyn nhw a rhoi fy marn iddi amdanyn nhw, os oni'n teimlo felly. Wel, nes i erioed rhoi fy marn. Nes i ddal yn ol, sy ddim fel fi. Oni isho clywed fersiwn gorffenedig yr albwm cyn 'mynd yn gyhoeddus' fel petai. Nid bod 'na unrhywbeth yn bod efo'r caneuon hynny, chi'n deall. Oni just isho aros tan y foment iawn. Ac rwan ma'r foment honno di cyrraedd.

Enw'r albwm ydy 'Penmon', ar ol y pentre' ar Ynys Mon. Dwi erioed 'di bod i Benmon, ond yn amlwg mae'i hanes a'i hawyrgylch wedi gafael yn Lleuwen ac wedi gadael ei marc arni. Dwi'n dychmygu bod y lle'n un tawel sy'n rhoi cyfle i unigolyn fyfyrio ac ymlacio, i feddwl ac i hiraethu. Ac i werthfawrogi'r pethau syml sy'n rhoi pleser mewn bywyd. Dyma yn union be' sy ar gael ar yr albwm hon. Ma'r casgliad yn cychwyn gyda swn tonnau, allweddell ymlaciedig a churiad na fyddai allan o le ar gasgliad 'Cafe Del Mar'. I fod yn onest, gallech chi fod tu allan i'r cafe enwog hwnnw yn Ibiza gyda'ch llygaid ar gau yn gwrando ar yr intro.

Ond beth sy'n diwgydd wedyn yw taith gerddorol o fath dwi heb fod arni ers gwrando ar 'Syrffio Mewn Cariad' gan Endaf Emlyn. I'r rhai sy'n fy 'nabod i, ma' hwnna'n ddweud mawr. Dwi'n ystyried yr albwm honno i fod yr albwm orau yn yr iaith Gymraeg erioed. Ac ma' 'Penmon' newydd ymuno a 'Syrffio...' i hawlio'r teitl hwnnw. Ma'r ddwy fel brawd a chwaer i'w gilydd, yn rhannu'r un meddlyfryd, yr un weledigaeth, yr un grefft a'r un teimlad eu bod nhw'n ddarnau o waith sy'n bodoli tu allan i unrhyw 'sin Gymraeg' sy'n bodoli ac yn bodoli ar ben eu hunain. 'Penmon' yw albwm orau 2007 hyd yn hyn, mewn unrhyw iaith.

Monday, July 02, 2007 

. . . in the booklet of my beloved Penmon album I wrote "for English translations go to myspace.com/lleuwen."  

A promise is a promise.

Here goes. . . . .

1. Pererinion ( Pilgrims)

Words by T.Gwynn Jones. Chaired bard in the National Eisteddfod 1902 and pacifist. The words to this song are taken from a poem he wrote for his mate, W.J Gruffudd, with fond memories of their pilgrimage to Penmon, Anglesey.

T.Gwynn Jones was not a passenger. On a Sunday morning some time during World War One, he walked out of  some chapel in Aberystwyth 'cause the vicar prayed for British victory. 

I love T.Gwynn. I would marry him if he was still alive. Gutted.

 

2. Dy Gynnal Di

Song for my friends.

It gives permission to cry.

Tears fall like end of summer rain.

 

3. Fel Storm (Like a Storm)

You love me like a storm

On a warm night in the summer,

And nature is so kind

I feel like the rainbow the morning after.

 

Promise not to promise but to be as you are forever.

 

4. Bore Sadwrn (Saturday Morning)

This baby came to me in rainy gray Crewe. I was waiting for a late train and I recorded it into my phone and worked out some chords when I got to wherever I was going.

Another song about running away.

 

5. Carreg (Stone)

Oh I am feeling like a stone

Stuck inside your shoe

Trying to find my way from here

I am hurting you

 

Oh I am rolling like a stone

On your finest fields

You held me then threw me

Back into the sea

One year two years three years four years five years twenty million light years more years on top of all those years and years on years on years of

Sand

Sand

Sand

Sand

I am falling like the sand

Clenched inside your fist

You squeeze me

And lose me

Finally free as we're meant to be.

 

6 Rhosyn Saron

Hymnstress Ann Griffiths recited her compositions to her maid Ruth Evans on their long walks from Dolwar Fach to Bala to attend religious services. Ann died in 1805, and a year later her hymns (from Ruth's memory) were published as "Casgliad o Hymnau" (Collection of Hymns). Ann Griffiths is regarded as the most important female figure in the history of Welsh literature before the 20th century.

English translation by H.Idris Bell.

Lo, between the myrtles standing,
One who merits well my love,
Though His worth I guess but dimly,
High all earthly things above;
Happy morning
When at last I see Him clear!
Rose of Sharon, so men name Him;
White and red his cheeks adorn;
Store untold of earthly treasure
Will His merit put to scorn
Friend of sinners,
He their pilot o'er the deep.

What can weigh with me henceforward
All the idols of the earth?
One and all I here proclaim them,
Matched with Jesus, nothing worth;
O to rest me.

more later. . .