We’re over the moon to announce that 9Bach are to release their second album TINCIAN via Real World Records on 12 May 2014 and that Folk Radio UK are to be a media partner for their tour which kicks off on 15th May (dates below).
There’s no mistaking the haunting and beautiful sound of 9Bach who first came to our attention with the release of their eponymous titled début released back in 2009. The combined exquisite vocals of Lisa Jen who formed the band with Martin Hoyland and their striking original arrangements made them so unique and unforgettable, there simply isn’t anyone else quite like them.
But what really struck home more than anything else was the new voice they were giving to Welsh song…they were giving old folk songs new life and room to breathe and they achieved this by singing the songs as they personally felt them, even if you didn’t speak Welsh you sure as hell felt the strong underlying emotions. They let those songs evolve, something they’d been crying out for.
TINCIAN is an atmospheric, emotional record that reflects their home environment of Gerlan, North Wales. Tincian is the perfect description: an allusive, mercurial Welsh word with several meanings that travels through time and space.
“Tincian can mean a lot of things, to move with a tinkling sound, to ring and make a clear sound. Depending on what area of Wales you are from, the meaning varies. It comes to life in dialogue when you use sentences like ‘I gave him such a talking to, he didn’t know what had hit him…he was ‘tincian’. It’s almost like a cartoon image of someone’s head being hit by a hammer.” Lisa Jen
9Bach chose TINCIAN as the album title for many reasons: it is an old fashioned word that is dying. It is industrial in origin, and it is almost onomatopoeic, it rings a special sound.
The rich songs on the album (all new compositions, except for “one sly Old Welsh folk song that demanded it’s place”) are all stories: some of them autobiographical, sometimes telling someone else’s true story and some are imaginary. There are stories of quarry men, of strong and brave women, of lost children, of foxes feasting near blood stained streams in areas of natural beauty, of forgotten derelict houses, of nature, of slate, of red dust, of family and of ‘cariad’ which means love. Sometimes there is pain, sometimes anger, a harshness that rings a heavy sound. But there is also a beauty and serenity, a light and gentle sound that resonates much further – TINCIAN.
The ten songs on TINCIAN, though written and sung in Welsh/Cymraeg and arranged in the folk tradition, also tap into elements of dub and rock, taking an unconventional and universal approach to form, reflecting 9Bach’s view of themselves as internationalists. They want to take the experience and the culture of North Wales out to a wider audience, citing Super Furry Animals’ highly successful Mwng album as an inspiration.
9Bach are: Lisa Jenn (vocals), Martin Hoyland (guitars and percussion),Ali Byworth (drums and percussion), Dan Swain (bass guitar), Esyllt Glyn Jones (harp, vocals), and Mirain Roberts (vocals).
TINCIAN will be released through Real World Records on May 12th.
Lisa Jen (9Bach) performing the song ‘Lliwiau’ (shown on Pethe on 1st December 2013).
Lliwia means Colours. It’s a song written about childbirth. All the colours you can see when you close your eyes and the instant love that you feel for this soul that comes out.
UK Tour
9Bach will tour the UK in May and June:
MAY
15 CAERNARFON – Galeri
16 NEWTOWN – Theatre Hafren
20 WINCHESTER Railway
21 OXFORD Jericho Tavern
22 BRISTOL Louisiana
23 CARDIFF – Sherman Theatre
24 CARMARTHEN – Lyric
JUNE
05 LONDON – Sebright Arms
06 BRIGHTON – Komedia Studio
Also appearing at the following Festivals
AUGUST
14 The Green Man Festival
27 End Of The Road Festival
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: www.pulluptheroots.co.uk
www.9bach.com
Real World Records
