Carreg Lafar - Profiad (Experience)

This was the most impressive album from Welsh folk group Carreg Lafar. They had a strong line up in 2002, with impressive and passionate vocals, both female and male and a very accomplished instrumental line-up of fiddle, flute/whistles, guitar and assorted bagpipes/mandola/percussion. A good ear for a melody and some excellent arrangements make this stand out as one of the finest albums of Welsh music I have heard. The songs range from the spirited composition by Meic Stephens "Dic Penderyn", describing a Welsh working-class hero who was executed following the Merthyr riots of 1831, driven along by the guitar, with arabesques of melody from the other instruments interspersing the verses, to the haunting love song "Lloer Dirion" which makes excellent use of guest Claudine Cassidy's cello. Many of the songs are enlivened by tunes written by members of the band, and the slow air "Llanllechid" is a particularly fine duet between violin and Lawson Dando's beautifully judged piano. The band have been making great strides. [source Paul Burgess]

1 Dryw Bach

2 Profiad

3 Lloer Dirion

4 Dic Penderyn

5 Llanllechid

6 Y Gwanwyn

7 Dyffryn Cletwr

8 Seren y Bore

9 Cariad Cyntaf

10 Tri Pheth

11 Iechyd o Gylch

link to the free album

Carreg Lafar - Profiad (Experience)

Carreg Lafar - Hyn

Carreg Lafar are a traditional Welsh folk band. Formed in Cardiff by Rhian Evan-Jones, Antwn Owen-Hicks, James Rourke, Linda Owen Jones, and Simon O'Shea, Carreg Lafar means "a speaking stone", or "echo stone". Carreg Lafar is one of the bands that has been at the forefront of the Welsh traditional music scene. The group uses a mix of traditional and original music to convey a contemporary and fresh approach, whilst staying firmly rooted in the language and tradition of Welsh song and dance music. The material is arranged for traditional and contemporary instruments including fiddle, flute, pibgorn (hornpipe), bagpipes, and guitar, together with dynamic vocals. The group has made three albums, Ysbryd y Werin (Spirit of the People), Hyn (This) and Profiad ( Experience). Hyn, was released in August 1998 and received rave reviews in folk and roots music magazines in the UK and North America. Living Tradition called it "Welsh folk music at its best."

1 Yr Hen Ferchetan/Ffair Y Bala

2 Os Daw Fy Nghariad

3 Blewyn Glas/Gwas Y Neidr

4 Lisa Lan

5 Cariad Cywir

6 Afon Yr Haf

7 Mari Lwyd

8 Llef Harlech/Aberdulais

9 Aberhonddu

10 Dau Rosyn Coch/Mynd Am Dro

link to the free album

Carreg Lafar - Hyn