Jacob’s Antiques, Cardiff
Sat 4 June
Kicking off the month is the bittersweet leaving party for a label that will always be fondly remembered. Peski Records is a Cardiff-based label that, since 2003, has been active in releasing underground and alternative music across the spectrum and from all over Wales. The label is closing its doors after nearly 15 years of releasing some of the best Welsh music, including Cate Le Bon, Race Horses and Gwenno – whose 2014 debut Y Dydd Olaf was critically acclaimed across the UK and beyond. If this decision is financially induced, it’s a morose reflection of the homegrown Welsh music scene’s viability.
This show features a good chunk of their roster. The blossoming R Seiliog brings his Autechre-influenced psych-techno movements; Twinfield is a fantastic Cardiffian singer and producer of emotive acid house and synth pop voyages (downloadable from his Soundcloud page); Llwybr Llaethog have been the masters of “Dub Cymraeg” for 30 years; Plyci is a Nottingham-based creator of noisy melody and jarring beats influenced by everyone from Plaid to James Holden and Nathan Fake. There’s loads more, with Krautrock and psych influences everywhere, including Farm Hand aka Mark Thomas of Islet [pictured], David Mysterious’s “outsider Welsh power pop”, and Anelog’s Super Furry Animals-meets-Boards Of Canada shoegaze.
So much thriving brilliance, and now no home at Peski for it. Hopefully the weekly radio show, Cam O’r Tywyllwch, will continue (Radio Cardiff, every Thursday, 9pm). Presented in Welsh, the Peski team and Gwenno give a platform to Wales-based sonic explorers, placing them in an international context with relevant music from elsewhere. It’s a really valuable addition to the country’s cultural landscape, and deserves a place on BBC Wales, if it would finally start paying attention to the interesting stuff – did they learn nothing from their ignorance of Datblygu when John Peel was gushing over them in the 90s?
Anyway, as Peski say, “let’s have one more awkward dance together…. one last Nacht before we turn off the lights,” and let’s look to the future. This event is part of the Cardiff-wide Festival Of Voice, which takes place from Fri 3-Sun 12 June.
Tickets: £12. Info: 029 2039 0939 GWYN THOMAS DE CHROUSTCHOFF