by Rhys Delany (@rhysdelany)
“There is no present in Wales,
And no future;
There is only the past,
Brittle with relics”
– R.S. Thomas Welsh Landscape
Myths and Legends of Wales is the debut album by folk duo Milkweed. Having released a handful of singles and an EP of alternative carols, the duo now present an album based entirely on a book by Tony Roberts titled Myths and Legends of Wales.
The album opens with birdsong and what could be mistaken for a John Fahey riff. Milkweed have created a soundtrack to the stories that Tony Roberts had written about, and the sound they make is one of acoustic instruments blended with sounds of the passing world including that of a train on the song, “Helig Went Riding”. The album was recorded all in a single sitting with no demos and no overdubs. This idea that the recording captures a chance moment of time only adds to the depth of the folkloric tales that are told.
Not much is known about Milkweed. Most prominently, we know they live on a houseboat, and this is where the album was recorded. The sound they make is one of tradition following a folky lineage from the contemporary Sufjan Stevens all the way back to The Corries. The music has a clear warmth, and this perhaps also relates to the intimate setting in which the album was recorded.
The notion of an album based entirely on Welsh myths and legends is particularly heart-warming. As the lines from the poem Welsh Landscape by R.S. Thomas show, modern Wales has an identity issue, but both music and writing is one of the greatest ways in which to preserve Welsh culture. John Cale’s breathy vocals have drifted through alternative music ever since the 60’s and now Kelly Lee Owens brings her Welshness to life in her techno explorations. The music of Datblygu, and the select few that seem to appreciate David Edwards, show the Welsh language in all of its stunning mystique. While the cynical R.S. Thomas may feel there is no future for Wales, it is through its unique history and stories that Wales will continue to be this enchanting land of ancient mystery, embedded in the British Isles.
If you are sort of person piqued by legend, and have a curious mind of discovery, then this album is well worth your time. At only 23 minutes long, the music says goodbye before it has the chance to overstay its welcome. Like passing by an old friend, Myths and Legends of Wales is a moment that you will wish you could sit with for longer.