Howl Griff is a bilingual beekeeper from Aberystwyth (“I’ve got enough bee venom in my bloodstream to kill a normal man,” he says. “I guess you get used to it”). His eponymous debut album was sung in Welsh and recorded on an isolated farm in Carmarthenshire. It was produced by Owen Powell (ex-Catatonia guitarist who recently worked with north Wales singer Duffy) and engineered by Tim Lewis (Julian Cope, Thighpaulsandra, Spiritualized, Coil; Tim also plays keyboards on the album).
Blending the psychedelia of The Byrds with the modern AOR of The Raconteurs and drenched in lush harmonies, Howl has created a unique West (Wales) Coast sound that ranks alongside the Super Furry Animals and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci.
The band consists of Howl Griff (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Gary Parkinson (guitars, vocals), Matt Barnes (bass) and Nick Moore (drums). Howl is the only Welshman (the other three hail from Bolton, Tasmania and Merseyside respectively), but the band have been learning the language in order to sing harmonies. “It’s the only record where you’ll hear Welsh sung in a broad Bolton accent,” says Howl.
Rattling single, Hedd Nôd, translates as ‘Peace Sign’ (“It’s about all the people of the world telephoning their leaders for peaceful solutions to conflicts via music”), while Brifo Mae Brâd, a re-working of Howl’s English song Pain Is Alright, is about betrayal. Grisial Clir is about keeping the crystal clear waters of Cardigan Bay pollution-free, while DNA casts a worried eye at our genetic futures.
After developing a cult following in Howl’s homeland, where they have sold out gigs and made several TV appearances, the band – who also sing several live songs in English – have been received enthusiastically by crowds in London and New York, and will be touring and playing festivals in the summer of 2008.
It will offcially be released on : 28th April 2008
The format is : CD and download
Howl Griff album launches:
Fri 9 May – 1pm Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Fri 9 May – 8pm Coopers Arms, Aberystwyth
Sat 10 May – Ty Newydd, Sarn, Lleyn Peninsula
Sat 31 May – Castell Rock, Aberystwyth
Thu 12 June – The Half Moon, Herne Hill, London
Dockrad Records are a (mainly) Welsh language label based near Cardiff and have previously had releases by bands such as Ashokan, Diffiniad, Ty Gwydr, Volenté, Skep, The Afternoons, Maniana, Gilespi and others. Check out www.dockrad.com for more information and to buy CDs and tracks digitally.
