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GWENNO shares video for ‘Fratolish Hiang Perpeshki’ and announces new live dates.. “Y Dydd Olaf” is out now on Heavenly Recordings

January 27, 2016

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GWENNO

Unveils ‘Fratolish Hiang Perpeshki‘ Video

Announces UK dates

Y DYDD OLAF (The Last Day) out now via Heavenly Recordings

GWENNO is pleased to announce a string of live dates this Spring, including the BBC 6 Music Festival, and a headline show at the Moth Club, London on 12th March:

Saturday 13th February – BBC 6 Music Festival, Bristol
Thursday 10th March – The Bodega, Nottingham
Friday 11th March – Hare & Hounds 2, Birmingham
Saturday 12th March – Moth Club, London
Wednesday 16th March – Heavenly Recordings Showcase, SXSW
Friday 25th March – Wales Goes Pop!, Cardiff
Friday 1st April – Laugharne Festival, Laugharne
Thursday 12th May – Focus Wales, Wrexham

She’s also unveiled the new video for ‘Fratolish Hiang Perpeshki’, made with photographer and film maker Jacek Davis. Gwenno says of the video, “Jacek’s imagery evokes pure glamour in the most DIY sense, and since Fratolish Hiang Perpeshki is about dancing in a dystopian future where robot overlords have taken over the world and we’re all rapidly being turned into clones, we thought we’d make a video of me dancing – as a final wave goodbye to freedom.”

In a period of governmental and cultural transition, former The Pipettes front-woman, Gwenno Saunders, has released a political concept album inspired by an obscure 1970s Welsh language sci-fi novel, subtly disguised as a blissful kraut-pop record.

Written by Gwenno and produced by Rhys Edwards, Y DYDD OLAF (The Last Day)turns its back on predictable commercial aspirations and lifts a defiant middle finger in the direction of the mainstream.

Taking its cue, and title, from Owain Owain‘s 1976 novel about a dystopian future where the robots have taken over and are busily turning the human race into clones through the use of medication, Y DYDD OLAF blends big themes (including patriarchal society, government-funded media propaganda, cultural control, technology, isolation and the importance of, and threat to minority languages), great tunes, and a real sense of revolution to produce a powerful, politically-charged concept album.

After years on the peripheries of the mainstream – firstly as a professional dancer, then as a singer and musician – Gwenno returned to her home town of Cardiff in 2011 to produce music that’s free of industry expectations, sales targets and commercial shackles.

First with Peski Records, where a limited edition pressing of the album sold out in weeks, and now signed to Heavenly Recordings, she has found the perfect home for her brand of left-field electro-pop. And with the parallel world of 1980s underground – and ground-breaking – Welsh-medium music by artists including Malcolm Neon, Llwybr Llaethog,Datblygu and Ectogram, not forgetting the German Krautrock movement of the 1970s, and early electronic music pioneers Daphne Oram and Delia Derbyshire inspiring her music, outlook and aspirations, Y DYDD OLAF feels at once retro, contemporary and futuristic.

The album, which is sung entirely in Welsh, apart from one song in Cornish, is a cultural document and a celebration of what is unique about life in modern day Britain.

Y DYDD OLAF is a political, feminist, brilliantly executed record; and although this particular revolution might not be televised, it certainly will have a great soundtrack.

Critical acclaim for Y DYDD OLAF, out now on Heavenly Recordings:
“Y Dydd Olaf is at once spooky and playful, romantic and angry… Mixing an ancient, bucolic language with otherworldly dance music is a genius move.”
MOJO – 4 Stars ****
“Her solo debut channels Broadcast and Boards Of Canada via fragrant kosmische grooves as she sings a socialist manifesto inspired, in part, by Welsh writer Owain Owain’s ’70s dystopian novel, Y Dydd Olaf… Seldom is the personal married to the political in such an enchanting fashion.”
Uncut – 8/10
“Saunders immediately commuincates a sense of fracture and collapse, the dying fall of Golau Arall or the chaotic pop static of Stwff unfolding against an ominous deep red horizon… This record demands what’s left of your time.”
Q – 4 Stars ****

“Y Dydd Olaf is a crucial minority language record, but Saunders’ beguiling melodies and execution also make it one of the best British debuts of 2015.”

Pitchfork
“The tunes are gorgeous throughout. Saunders sounds like a more mellifluous Trish Keenan on the Broadcast-cum-Stereolab stomp of ‘Patriarchaeth’ and the dreamy title track, while the decaying, blissed-out coda to ‘Sisial Y Mor’ disguises some ominous portents. Dystopia has never sounded so alluring.”
Loud & Quiet – 9/10
“The best concept record of the decade so far… Y Dydd Olaf sets critiques of technology, patriarchy and state-approved propaganda to silver-suited krautpop, sprinkled with ray-gun synth effects and warm vocal harmonies.”
London In Stereo

“A musically adventurous record that’s sugared by its pop sensibility”
Clash

“A marvellously magical mixture of elation, anger and sorrow and is very lovely indeed. With the opening salvo of her solo career Gwenno has added another album to the growing list of this year’s highlights.”
The Line of Best Fit

“A revolutionary feminist concept album full of righteous political ire… Ambient krautpop beats and space-echo chimes underpin Gwenno’s luscious vocals.”
NME

Connect:
https://www.facebook.com/Gwennomusic
https://twitter.com/gwennosaunders
http://www.gwenno.info/
https://www.facebook.com/HeavenlyRecordings

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