Wales has spawned another band worth following. Ynys (translated: Island) is a psychedelic folk pop project of Dylan Hughes (formerly in Race Horses and Radio Luxembourg). Two years after a self-titled debut album, we listen with keen ears to the successor Dosbarth Nos (Night Class). The new record contains ten richly orchestrated songs, sung in Welsh and English (the closing self-titled track is a short instrumental), in which adventure and melancholy compete for priority. It is fascinating to wander around in this music and lyrics, with the title track standing out (“Ar goll yn y ddinas // Methu’n lân â ffeindio fy nhraed // A phob hunan werthusiad // Yn dod i’r un canlyniad” (“Lost in the city // Just can’t find my feet // And those self-assessments // come to the same conclusions”), an immersive experience in which a lot happens.
Dosbarth Nos is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Libertino Records. Featuring Dylan Hughes (lead vocals, synths, piano, guitar), Aled Evans (drums, vocals), Rhys Jones (electric guitar), Heledd Watkins (bass, vocals), Sam Roberts (vocals), Mali Llywelyn (vocals), Gwion Llewelyn (vocals), Tara Bethan (vocals), Frank Naughton (percussion), David Grubb (strings) and Stephen Black (saxophone).