Welsh composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Cerys Hafana is set to release their third album, Angel (September 26th on tak:til/ Glitterbeat), described as a deep exploration of minimalism, traditional and avant-folk music. The first single from the album, “Helynt Ryfeddol,” offers a compelling glimpse into the innovative and atmospheric world Hafana has created.
Hafana shared the following on the creation of Helynt Ryfeddol: “I put Blu Tack on the harp strings to give it a muted, woody sound, and also used the body of the harp as a percussion instrument. The interplay between the voice and saxophone is a rough impersonation of the Breton ‘Kan ha diskan’ style of singing, in which singers alternate lines so that they can maintain a completely uninterrupted melody and rhythm for people to dance to.”
Angel finds Hafana further pushing the boundaries of their primary instrument, the Welsh triple harp. The album, their first for the esteemed tak:til / Glitterbeat label (the same label that released fellow experimental artist Brìghde Chaimbeul‘s Sunwise), alternates between ethereal vocal tracks sung entirely in Welsh and intricate instrumentals. Hafana is joined by a deft trio of exploratory musicians on drums, double bass, and alto sax, who add layers of texture and improvisation to their compositions.
The album’s conceptual starting point is a Welsh folktale about a man who, enchanted by an angel’s song, falls asleep for 350 years. This narrative thread weaves through the album, which Hafana describes as an attempt to “push the musical limits more than I have previously.” Their innovative approach to the triple harp, which includes damping the strings with Blu-Tac to create a muted, percussive sound.
The lead single, “Helynt Ryfeddol,” exemplifies the album’s unique sonic palette. Its driving, repetitive rhythms draw inspiration from contemporary Breton folk music, while Hafana’s spellbinding vocals and intricate harp work remain at the forefront. The track is a powerful introduction to an album that solidifies Cerys Hafana’s position as one of the UK’s most exciting and genre-defying contemporary folk artists. Angel is a testament to their ability to create music that is both deeply rooted in tradition and boldly forward-thinking.
UK Live Dates
Sat 16 Aug – FolkEast Festival, Sotterley Estate, Suffolk
Fri 22 Aug – Between The Trees Festival, Candleston Woods, Merthyr Mawr, South Wales
Sun 24 Aug – Shambala Festival, Northamptonshire
Sun 31 Aug – Moseley Folk Festival, Birmingham
Sat 20 Sep – Hidden Notes Festival, Stroud
Thu 2 Oct – St George’s, Bristol
Fri 3 Oct – Music Room @ Liverpool Philharmonic Hall/ Cerddoriaeth Cymru: A Celebration of Welsh Folk Music, with 9Bach, Cerys Hafana and VRi
Sat 4 Oct – The Gate, Cardiff
Sun 5 Oct – All Saints’ Church, Langport
Wed 8 Oct – Band on the Wall, Manchester
Thu 9 Oct – Cobalt Studio, Newcastle
Fri 10 Oct – The Glad Cafe, Glasgow
Sat 11 Oct – Firth Hall, Sheffield
Sun 12 Oct – St Matthias Church, London
Thu 16 Oct – KCM Church, Falmouth
Fri 17 Oct – Barrelhouse, Totnes
Sat 18 Oct – Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon
Tue 21 Oct – Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth
Fri 24 Oct – Tŷ Siamas, Dolgellau
Sat 25 Oct – Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda
Cerys Hafana – ‘Angel’
New album out 26 September on tak:til/ Glitterbeat
Formats: LP/ CD/ Digital streaming & download
Catalogue numbers: GBCD/LP 178
Pre-order on Bandcamp: https://ceryshafana.bandcamp.com/album/angel