The music of Tristwch y Fenywod is unearthy. It is like those early Dead Can Dance tracks where Lisa Gerrard took over, her voice conjuring up a vibe not of this era. Tristwch y Fenywod are a Welsh trio. They sing in Welsh, and that naturally gives this material an ancient, timeless feel.
Album opener "Blodyn Gwynedd" rattles atop a zither -- or a set of zithers -- as the vocals pull like the voices of the sirens luring us to the rocks amid the waves. It's a stunning bit of music, and one utterly and totally unlike anything else you're going to hear this year. Elsewhere, " Y Trawsnewidiad" shares a mood like the best Dead Can Dance numbers from side two of Withing the Realm of a Dying Sun. "Llwydwyrdd", a highlight for me here, shares styles not entirely unlike Garlands-era Cocteau Twins, or Siouxsie at her most darkly psychedelic.
Tristwch y Fenywod are making folk music of a sort. There's something in these tunes which seems ageless, as if the witches in Macbeth had somehow been recorded, or brought to life better than anyone ever had before. Chillingly emotive, distinct in realization, and affecting in its stark, odd beauty, Tristwch y Fenywod is a one-of-a-kind release. Don't miss this one.
Tristwch y Fenywod by Tristwch y Fenywod is out now via Night School Records.
[Photo: Tristwch y Fenywod]