Staff Reviews

9Bach - Tincian

Review by Russell Warfield

An ambiguous mood piece from fragments of traditional Welsh music and contemporary tension.»

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'Tincian' is the second album by 9Bach, the group formed by Lisa Jen (also known for her work with Gruff Rhys) and Martin Hoyland. It's an atmospheric, emotional record that reflects their home environment of Gerlan, North Wales. 'Tincian' is the perfect description: an allusive, mercurial Welsh word with several meanings that travels through time and space. 9Bach chose 'Tincian' as the album title for many reasons: it is an old fashioned word that is dying. It is industrial in origin, and it is almost onomatopoeic, it rings a special sound. The rich songs on the album (all new compositions, except for one traditional folk song) are all stories: some of them autobiographical, sometimes telling someone else's true story and some are imaginary. There are stories of quarry men, of strong and brave women, of lost children, of foxes feasting near blood stained streams in areas of natural beauty, of forgotten derelict houses, of nature, of slate, of red dust, of family and of 'cariad' which means love. Sometimes there is pain, sometimes anger, a harshness that rings a heavy sound. But there is also a beauty and serenity, a light and gentle sound that resonates much further. The ten songs on 'Tincian', though written and sung in Welsh / Cymraeg and arranged in the folk tradition, also tap into elements of dub and rock, taking an unconventional and universal approach to form, reflecting 9Bach's view of themselves as internationalists. They want to take the experience and the culture of North Wales out to a wider audience, citing Super Furry Animals' highly successful Mwng album as an inspiration.
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