Datblygu
Encyclopedia
Datblygu was an experimental Welsh rock group
in the 1980s and early to mid-1990s, now regarded as a catalyst of the new wave of Welsh rock
in the early '80s.
. After four cassette-only releases on Casetiau Neon, the band had their first vinyl release in 1987 on Anhrefn Records
, with the "Hwgr-Grawth-Og" single, which was picked up by John Peel
and led to a session being recorded for his BBC Radio 1
show (the first of five such sessions). The band's first album, Wyau (Eggs), was released in 1988, and was followed two years later with Pyst (Post) on the Ofn label. Davies left in 1990 and the group continued as a duo for a while, before being augmented by a series of musicians, notably drummer
Al Edwards
. Moving to Ankst Records, the Christmas-themed Blwch Tymer Tymor cassette was issued in 1991. Edwards collaborated with Tŷ Gwydr and Llwybr Llaethog
on the 1992 album LL.LL v T.G. MC DRE, before releasing a final Datblygu album in 1993 with Libertino. After a single, "Alcohol"/"Amnesia" in 1995, the band split up.
In August 2008 a new 7" single 'Can y Mynach Modern' (The Song of the Modern Monk) was released. The song recounts (over its brief ninety seconds) the turmoil and madness that engulfed Edwards as the band fell apart in the mid nineties and the long road to recovery that resulted from the fallout. The track is intended as a full stop on their legacy rather than a brand new start.
Datblygu have been cited as a major influence on the generation of Welsh bands that followed, including Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
and Super Furry Animals
(who covered Datblygu's "Y Teimlad" on their Mwng
album).
In a rare TV appearance, David featured on S4C
documentary programme 'O Flaen dy Lygaid' in 2009, presented by Cardiff
-based broadcaster and friend of Dave, Ali Yassin, which followed Dave and his battle to recover from mental illness. The programme also featured Datblygu band-member and former Pobol y Cwm
actress Ree Davies, and her own battle against mental illness.
Music of Wales
Wales has a strong and distinctive link with music. The country is traditionally referred to as "the land of song". This is a modern stereotype based on 19th century conceptions of Nonconformist choral music and 20th century male voice choirs, Eisteddfodau and arena singing, such as sporting...
in the 1980s and early to mid-1990s, now regarded as a catalyst of the new wave of Welsh rock
Music of Wales
Wales has a strong and distinctive link with music. The country is traditionally referred to as "the land of song". This is a modern stereotype based on 19th century conceptions of Nonconformist choral music and 20th century male voice choirs, Eisteddfodau and arena singing, such as sporting...
in the early '80s.
History
The band was formed by vocalist David R. Edwards and instrumentalist T. Wyn Davies in 1982, with instrumentalist Patricia Morgan joining in 1985. Edwards' lyrics were almost entirely in the Welsh languageWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. After four cassette-only releases on Casetiau Neon, the band had their first vinyl release in 1987 on Anhrefn Records
Anhrefn Records
Recordiau Anhrefn was a record label established in 1983 by Rhys Mwyn.Based in the small mid-Wales village of Llanfair Caereinion, before Rhys and his brother Sion Sebon moved to Bangor, North Wales, the record label was initially an outlet for their own band Yr Anhrefn but soon went on to release...
, with the "Hwgr-Grawth-Og" single, which was picked up by John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
and led to a session being recorded for his BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show (the first of five such sessions). The band's first album, Wyau (Eggs), was released in 1988, and was followed two years later with Pyst (Post) on the Ofn label. Davies left in 1990 and the group continued as a duo for a while, before being augmented by a series of musicians, notably drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Al Edwards
Al Edwards
Albert "Al" Edwards is a former member of the Texas Legislature representing District 146. As a senior member of the State Legislature, Al Edwards served on three of the most influential Committees...
. Moving to Ankst Records, the Christmas-themed Blwch Tymer Tymor cassette was issued in 1991. Edwards collaborated with Tŷ Gwydr and Llwybr Llaethog
Llwybr Llaethog
Llwybr Llaethog are an experimental Welsh language band that effectively mix such varied musical genres as rap, dub, reggae, hip hop, and punk in their music....
on the 1992 album LL.LL v T.G. MC DRE, before releasing a final Datblygu album in 1993 with Libertino. After a single, "Alcohol"/"Amnesia" in 1995, the band split up.
In August 2008 a new 7" single 'Can y Mynach Modern' (The Song of the Modern Monk) was released. The song recounts (over its brief ninety seconds) the turmoil and madness that engulfed Edwards as the band fell apart in the mid nineties and the long road to recovery that resulted from the fallout. The track is intended as a full stop on their legacy rather than a brand new start.
Datblygu have been cited as a major influence on the generation of Welsh bands that followed, including Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci were a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in Carmarthen, west Wales in 1991. They sang songs in both Welsh and English. They split up in May 2006.-Biography:...
and Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
(who covered Datblygu's "Y Teimlad" on their Mwng
Mwng
Mwng is the fourth studio album by Welsh rock band the Super Furry Animals, and the first by the group to have lyrics written entirely in the Welsh language. Mwng was released on 15 May 2000 on the band's own record label, Placid Casual, following the demise of their former label Creation...
album).
In a rare TV appearance, David featured on S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
documentary programme 'O Flaen dy Lygaid' in 2009, presented by Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
-based broadcaster and friend of Dave, Ali Yassin, which followed Dave and his battle to recover from mental illness. The programme also featured Datblygu band-member and former Pobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm is a Welsh-language television soap opera which has been produced by the BBC since October 1974. The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, Pobol y Cwm was originally transmitted on BBC Wales television and later transferred to the Welsh-language station S4C when it...
actress Ree Davies, and her own battle against mental illness.
Discography
- Casetiau Neon
- Amheuon Corfforol ('Body doubts') - cassette EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
; c. 1982 - Trosglwyddo'r Gwirionedd ('Transferring the truth') - cassette EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
; c. 1983 - Fi Du ('Me black') - cassette EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
; c. 1984 - Caneuon Serch i Bobl Serchog ('Love songs for lovers') - cassette EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
; c. 1985
- Amheuon Corfforol ('Body doubts') - cassette EP
- Anrhefn Records
- Hwgr Grawth-Og - 7" EPGramophone recordA gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
; 1986 - Wyau ('Eggs') - LP; 1988
- Hwgr Grawth-Og - 7" EP
- Ofn Records
- Pyst ('Posts') - LP; 1990
- Ankst RecordsAnkstAnkst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams...
- Blwch Tymer Tymor ('Season mood box') - cassette LP; 1991
- Peel Sessions: No AIDS, No Salmonella, and No Gulf War Respectively - LP; 1992 (compilationCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of the first 3 of the band's 5 Peel SessionsJohn PeelJohn Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
) - Libertino - CD; 1993
- Alcohol / Amnesia - singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
; 1995 - Wyau / Pyst - CD; 1995 (composed of the two earlier albums of the same names)
- Ankstmusik RecordsAnkstmusikAnkstmusik is a Welsh independent record label formed in 1997 by Emyr Glyn Williams following the dissolution of the Ankst label. Relocating from Cardiff to Pentraeth on Anglesey, Ankstmusik continued pretty much where Ankst left off, releasing material by such bands as Llwybr Llaethog, Datblygu,...
- Datblygu 1985 - 1995 - CD; 1999 (collection of previously released singles, compilation tracks and EPs)
- Wyau, Pyst a Libertino - double CD; 2004 (the three previous albums reissued as a double CD)
- "Can Y Mynach Modern" - 7" single; 2008
- The Peel Sessions 1987 - 1993 - CD; 2008 (all five Peel sessions)
External links
- Band profile on bbc.co.uk
- Beibl Datblygu Fan site (mostly in Welsh)
- Peel Sessions by Datblygu