CALAN

Nefydd (self-released)

It may come as a surprise to anyone listening to this excellent new collection from Calan that this is, in fact, their farewell album. The Welsh folk quartet have decided, 18 years into their stellar career, that it is time for them to part ways. But Nefydd is an album that sounds like it is being made by musicians at the peak of their creativity who are moving forward, rather than moving on.

The instrumental work is as tight and energetic as ever and the vocals swim enticingly out of the texture, telling stories of murdered Welsh princess Nefydd and feelings of passion and longing on Hiraeth.

The very contemporary hard and loud sound of the production does sharpen a lot of the soft edges of their playing and it’s not until Rali Wali, nine tracks in, that the band let loose with a little ragged jig and reel. But still, what an album Nefydd is to go out on for Calan.

words JOHN-PAUL DAVIES