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Leading Welsh singer/songwriter Tudur Huws Jones says of his
recent release Dal I Drio (Still
Trying), "my aim in putting this collection together was to
try and reflect all the musical elements which have influenced me
over the years." Dal I Drio
draws on eleven of Jones' own compositions all sung in Welsh
except for "Magi Tudur", an
instrumental written after the birth of his daughter and named
after her. In addition to Jones' self penned material we find
three traditional instrumentals that he has re-arranged.
The collection held here encompasses a wide range of
traditional folk styles to old-timey hill-country music to a more
modern style of country. The album sets out with the gentle "Angor"
("Anchor") dedicated to Tudur Huws wife Anna. In many
areas in Britain the local traditional industries have been closed
with the effects being devastation to the small towns that
depended on the work in coalmines, quarries and steel works. The
folk styled title track "Dal I Drio"
("Still Trying") is based on this heartache and the need
to carry on. Driven by a ringing banjo "Miliwn"
("A Million") is given a slightly bluegrass leaning with
dazzling use of mandolin and guitar as the song tells of a fool
who thinks he can exchange cash for love. We later find the
bluegrass influenced instrumental "O
Wrecsam I Fachynlleth" ("From Wrexham To
Machynlleth") based on two traditional Welsh melodies and
also "Mountain Jim", a
story of a man from Llanberis who went to North America to seek
his fortune..
Tudur Huws Jones has been inspired to write several songs by
the love of his family members and we find "Perffaith"
("Perfect") being another that was inspired by the birth
of his son Moi, but Jones says, "Somehow, the song turned
into a grown-up love song". "Sbaen
1936" ("Spain 36") is a story song telling
of people from Wales who were part of the international brigades
who went out to Spain to fight against fascism in the Spanish
civil war that brought General Franco to rule Spain for many
years. We can also hear about The Great Penrhyn Strike of 1900-03
with "Cau Drws Y Ty"
("Closing The Door Of The House").
Dal I Drio is an amazing album
with something to appeal to all tastes of folk and country styled
music. The musicianship is second to none with the album being
produced by Tudur Morgan who also plays on the album. Though all
songs are in the Welsh language you will soon find yourself being
drawn into the excitement of this fine collection.
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