Last week, Real World Records released a 10th-anniversary edition of 9Bach’s self-titled debut album. The album was originally released in August 2009 via Welsh label Sain, and rapidly picked up praise from the press although few could really predict how groundbreaking the album would become. While some praised the album they also struggled to grasp its true potential at the time. The Guardian simply concluded that front-woman Lisa Jên had “…potential to match Scotland’s Julie Fowlis as a British star who doesn’t sing in English”.
Those that hit closer to home immersed themselves in the re-interpretation of those Welsh folk songs, infused with a down-tempo dub-vibe, a welsh twist on Bristol’s then-burgeoning trip-hop sound, a lens through which a new generation of younger people could connect to those welsh folk songs of death, heartache and lost love.
Strip away that expansive sound to just Lisa Jên and guitarist Martin Hoyland and you have something just as beautiful as Real World revealed in a recent studio recording of Welsh folk song Pontypridd – “He’s trying to entice her and woo her. His intention is to have her. It’s a love song as he sings about how pure and beautiful she is.”
The 9Bach 10th Anniversary edition will feature new artwork and two bonus tracks. In keeping with the original album, these are new recordings of traditional Welsh folk songs. The first of these hark back to 9Bach’s roots, with an a cappella version of Trafaeliais Y Byd Cân i AJ. The arrangement of the second track, Cân Dai’r Cantwr, is electronic, potentially pointing to the band’s future direction.
Having never toured the album, in October the band will perform songs from the album at eight UK shows. Each show will comprise of two sets: in the first set the band will play songs from 9Bach, with the second set a mix of their other songs.
9Bach October 2019 Tour
14th Kings Place London
15th The Junction Cambridge
19th Theatr Mwldan
22nd Clwb Cardiff
23rd Aberystwyth Arts Centre
24th The Met Bury
25th Liverpool Phil Music Room
26th Pontio Theatre Bangor
For more information go to: https://realworldrecords.com/events/?artist=9bach