One of my proudest achievements on the blog this year, or any year for that matter, is the release of GruffWuff; a 19 track compilation of new, previously unreleased and exclusive recordings from some of my very favourite acts over the past 5 years of blogging.
It was a truly fantastic way to mark 5 years of BarryGruff and I am incredibly grateful to everyone involved and the overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic response. As 2015 draws to a close, I have enlisted help from people who made the compilation what it was, to chat about their favourite moments and sounds from year, and up next is Mr Huw.
Welsh maestro Mr Huw is an artist to be treasured, cherished and of course, enjoyed. Welsh lends itself to music rather well, regardless of whether you can understand it or not, and he is one of the most prolific and finest exponents of Welsh language music out there. Huw’s rough and unpolished, DIY style indie/post-punk has a glorious Half Man Half Biscuit aesthetic to it and generally packed with powerful rhythms, pointed riffs and broached with some infectious melodies and peppered with hooks you could hang your hat on. Mr Huw is an absolute gem!
Before we take a look at his 2015 sound selections, you should check out his sublime Du Llun EP (which roughly translates as ‘Black Monday’), and Mr Huw’s GruffWuff inclusion, ‘Bai Neb Ond Fy Hun’ – of which you can download here for FREE.
What was your personal high point of this year, musical and/or otherwise?
Personal high point for me was finishing the recording of my 5th album. Which is getting ready to be mixed as I write this. Also getting my band back together after a period of playing solo gigs last year. I landed myself a job running music projects for 5 to 18 year olds. I completed the 15 peak mountain challenge and ran PBs at marathon and ½ marathon distances. And went to see Mogwai celebrate their 20th anniversary at Glasgow Borrowlands. All in all a good year.
Favourite album of 2015?
I Couldn’t choose just one! The Wytches ‘Anabel Dream Reader’ (though a 2014 release), Pether Mathew Bauer ‘Liberation’ and Tame Impala ‘Currents’.
Favourite new act discovered in 2015?
They’ve been around for a while but I came across Here We Go Magic. So I’ve been listening loads to them. I’ve know him for a while, but seeing Meilyr Jones play his new stuff at End Of The Road Festival was brilliant.
Favourite song?
Thee Oh Sees ‘The Lens’
What are you plans for the new year? What can we expect from you?
The release of my 5th album, which I’m already very excited about. But in the meantime I’ll continue working on the next one, which I hope will be as much of a departure from album no. 5 as no. 5 is to 4. Hope that makes sense! I want to play a lot more live shows this year. A lot went on last year with a member leaving. Then going from a 3 piece back to a 4 piece, learning new material, our lives getting in the way of having time to play music together etc.
I’ll run more races, climb more mountains, listen to more music and generally try my hardest not to be an ass hole in any way, shape or form!