ilu – ‘Graffiti Hen Ewrop’

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Welsh label Libertino Records has fast become a reliable mine of intriguing and altogether wonderful sounds and we’ve struck gold once again with their latest release from ilu.

Dividing their time recording between Tallinn, Estonia and rural Wales, Ilu are mysterious Welsh Psych/Krautrock newcomers crafting epic, spacey, interstellar hymns – of Spiritualized proportions. Backing up these lofty claims is stunning debut single ‘Graffiti Hen Ewrop’. Propelled along Krautrock, motoric grooves ‘Graffiti Hen Ewrop’, spacey synths and heavenly harmonies envelop spiky post-punk guitars and bass rumbles which coalesces into one coherent, unstoppable sound. Sizzling danceable grooves are woven tightly into their mammoth tones and grinding churn, which is all punctuated with a beautiful yet melancholic sense of longing. As far as debut singles go, they don’t come much bigger or better than ‘Graffiti Hen Ewrop’; an immaculate palate of sonics, sounds and textures

Ilu’s debut single ‘Graffiti Hen Ewrop’ is out on August 3rd – check it out below.

Introducing: Adwaith

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I fear I’m destined to repeat myself over and over but for a relatively small place, Wales truly produces a staggering amount of stellar music. The latest addition to ever growing list is Adwaith, an experimental post punk three-piece from Carmarthenshire, consisting of Hollie Singer (vocals, guitar), Gwenllian Anthony (bass, keys, mandolin), and Heledd Owen (drums).

The trio recently released double A-side single ‘Fel i Fod’ / ‘Newid‘ through the very fruitful Libertino Records, which captures the essence to why you will be better for letting a little bit of Adwaith into your life.

‘Fel i Fod’ is a tender, inward searching affair with a foreboding aura of fear and marked with a melancholic mood. With its gorgeous subdued keyboard washes, chiming bright guitars, and stunning vocal harmonies, ‘Fel i Fod’ is simultaneously delicate, yet bold and confident, as the sense of fear subsides and trounced as it reaches its crescendo.

‘Newid’ on the other hand, is a harder edged, meatier and energetic proposition. Fueled by clattering post-punk chords and pulsating bass, it flits between darkness and light, and in continuity with ‘Fel i Fod’ there is an overwhelming and resounding feeling of defiance and hope. Over two tracks, sang in their native Welsh, you’ll be get a flavour of this trio’s spectrum of pristine but biting indie-pop to shuffling, lightly pulsating post-punk.

Powerful, beautiful and very special indeed – whatever 2018 has in store for Adwaith, it’s going to be interesting keeping an eye on, beginning with double-A single, ‘Fel I Fod/Newid’. Tune in below:

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