Datblygu

Datblygu (Welsh pronunciation: [datˈbləɡi] meaning "develop" or "developing") was an experimental Welsh rock group in the 1980s and early to mid-1990s, now regarded as a catalyst of the new wave of Welsh rock in the early '80s.

History

The band was formed by vocalist David R. Edwards and instrumentalist T. Wyn Davies in 1982, with instrumentalist Patricia Morgan joining in 1985.^[1] Edwards' lyrics were almost entirely in the Welsh language.^[1] After four cassette-only releases on Casetiau Neon, the band had their first vinyl release in 1987 on Anhrefn Records, with the "Hwgr-Grawth-Og" single, which was picked up by John Peel and led to a session being recorded for his BBC Radio 1 show (the first of five such sessions). The band's first album, Wyau (Eggs), was released in 1988, and was followed two years later with Pyst (Post) on the Ofn label. Davies left in 1990 and the group continued as a duo for a while, before being augmented by a series of musicians, notably drummer Al Edwards. Moving to Ankst Records, the Christmas-themed Blwch Tymer Tymor cassette was issued in 1991. Edwards collaborated with Tŷ Gwydr and Llwybr Llaethog on the 1992 album LL.LL v T.G. MC DRE, before releasing a final Datblygu album in 1993 with Libertino.^[1] After a single, "Alcohol"/"Amnesia" in 1995, the band split up.

In August 2008 a new 7" single 'Can y Mynach Modern' (The Song of the Modern Monk) was released. The song recounts (over its brief ninety seconds) the turmoil and madness that engulfed Edwards as the band fell apart in the mid nineties and the long road to recovery that resulted from the fallout. The track is intended as a full stop on their legacy rather than a brand new start.

Datblygu have been cited as a major influence on the generation of Welsh bands that followed, including Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Super Furry Animals (who covered Datblygu's "Y Teimlad" on their Mwng album).^[1]

In a rare TV appearance, David featured on S4C documentary programme 'O Flaen dy Lygaid' in 2009, presented by Cardiff-based broadcaster and friend of Dave, Ali Yassin, which followed Dave and his battle to recover from mental illness. The programme also featured Datblygu band-member and former Pobol y Cwm actress Ree Davies, and her own battle against mental illness.

Discography

• Casetiau Neon
  • Amheuon Corfforol ('Body doubts') - cassette EP; c. 1982
  • Trosglwyddo'r Gwirionedd ('Transferring the truth') - cassette EP; c. 1983
  • Fi Du ('Me black') - cassette EP; c. 1984
  • Caneuon Serch i Bobl Serchog ('Love songs for lovers') - cassette EP; c. 1985
• Anrhefn Records
  • Hwgr Grawth-Og - 7" EP; 1986
  • Wyau ('Eggs') - LP; 1988
• Ofn Records
  • Pyst ('Posts') - LP; 1990
• Ankst Records
  • Blwch Tymer Tymor ('Season mood box') - cassette LP; 1991
  • Peel Sessions: No AIDS, No Salmonella, and No Gulf War Respectively - LP; 1992 (compilation of the first 3 of the band's 5 Peel Sessions)
  • Libertino - CD; 1993
  • Alcohol / Amnesia - single; 1995
  • Wyau / Pyst - CD; 1995 (composed of the two earlier albums of the same names)
• Ankstmusik Records
  • Datblygu 1985 - 1995 - CD; 1999 (collection of previously released singles, compilation tracks and EPs)
  • Wyau, Pyst a Libertino - double CD; 2004 (the three previous albums reissued as a double CD)
  • "Can Y Mynach Modern" - 7" single; 2008
  • The Peel Sessions 1987 - 1993 - CD; 2008 (all five Peel sessions)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Strong, Martin C. (2003) "The Great Indie Discography", Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0

External links

• Band profile on bbc.co.uk
• Beibl Datblygu Fan site (mostly in Welsh)
• Peel Sessions by Datblygu