Endaf Emlyn – Salem
Syrffio Mewn Cariad
Dawnsionara
Although Endaf Emlyn’s film and television career possibly overshadows the music he created, his contribution to Welsh music is literally quite staggering. Whilst growing up in Pwllheli, Emlyn played violin alongside future Velvet Underground member John Cale in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. Emlyn was signed to Parlophone during the 1960’s and in and out of Abbey Road Studios in 1967, the same year that his label mates The Beatles frequently recorded there.
Sain are making available ‘Salem’ from 1974, ‘Syrffio Mewn Cariad’ from 1976 and ‘Dawnsionara’ from 1981 available again after being impossible to find for many years.
First up is ’Salem’ which was Emlyn’s first Welsh language concept album, inspired by the famous Sydney Curnow Vosper painting of a scene within Capel Salem Chapel in Pentre Gwynfryn in 1908. It is a beautifully arranged folk influenced album, that sounds like it was made yesterday – not on a 4 track tape in Emlyn’s kitchen in 1974.
1976 saw the release of another concept album with songs inspired by stories of sea travel, ’Syrffio Mewn Cariad’ saw Emlyn embrace synthesised sounds in a subtle way that sounds quite funk induced today. Again: we have an album that sounds way ahead of its time. The production is rich and vibrant without ever being overblown or pompous.
After taking time out to tread the boards with a couple of bands, Emlyn returned in 1981 with ‘Dawsnionara’ and a sophisticated funk rock sound that is something that David Byrne and his Talking Heads would have surely been envious of.
Also worth mentioning is the intriguing sleeve art of these three albums that perfectly captures the zeitgeist of their time. Thanks to Sain, these three albums can be now be heard again in all their glory.
4/5
Words: David Nobakht