Welsh Wednesday #55

#55: Hwylio Mewn Cyfog by Cate Le Bon

Cate Le Bon is the current darling of Welsh music. Her current project, Drinks, sees her teamed up with fellow California resident Tim Presley, aka White Fence. She's constantly working on something or another. In the last couple of years, she has collaborated with the likes of the Chemical Brothers, Manic Street Preachers, Willis Earl Beal and Kevin Morby.

I featured Kate in this series back last November, but today's post takes us back to her very first EP, 2008's Welsh language 'Edrych Yn Llygaid Ceffyl Benthyg', which translates as 'Looking A Gift Horse In The Mouth'. Hwylio Mewn Cyfog (Sea Sick) was the opening track and kind of set the template for what would follow, although of course Cate has continually experimented and developed her sound over the intervening period. It is unmistakably Cate Le Bon though. Good track this, and it's nice to hear her singing in her native tongue.


Here's Cate performing Hwylio Mewn Cyfog live on Welsh language music show Bandit:

In light of the ongoing refugee crisis some of Wales' leading musicians have come together to unite under the banner of Welsh Rock For Refugees. The result is 'Reach Out' – a 30-track album from which all proceeds will be donated to Refugee Action – a UK based charity that helps refugees at home and abroad.

Available on Bandcamp, contributors include Super Furry Animals, Gwenno, The Joy Formidable, Stereophonics, Charlotte Church, Kizzy Crawford, Mike Peters, Cerys Matthews... 'tis a veritable who's who of Welsh music! Read the story of the album here.