GWRACH Y NOS

Well, the Welsh band Brân managed to hang on in the late seventies long enough to crank off a third studio album before disappearing, but this is definitely not a case of ‘third time’s a charm’. Unlike the original and highly engaging work their offspring Pererin would record around the angelic voice and playful keyboards of Nest Llwelyn (nee Howells), this album is nothing more than bland and faux-enthusiastic cock-rock. Granted, the Welsh language vocals make for a mildly unusual deviation from their international contemporaries such as Triumph, the Babys, and I suppose the Bay City Rollers; but there is nothing either progressive or appealing to make this album even slightly of interest to any serious modern music lover.

Howells had left the group by the time they entered the studio to record this tripe (in late 1977 I believe), as had everyone else associated with the band other than guitarist and founder John Gwyn, who would provide nearly all the vocals in her place (bassist Louis Thomas backs on a few songs). Nest would reappear with Pererin and a fresh lineup a couple years later, leaving in their wake by the time they faded away four great studio albums including the timeless Welsh prog folk masterpiece ‘Haul Ar Yr Eira’.

This ain’t that album, nor is it anything close. A track-by-track breakdown isn’t necessary or even worthwhile. Suffice to say there are an awful lot of shreds, heavy riffs and mindless testosterone lyrics on pretty much every song. That’s about it. The title track is a feeble attempt at something ballad-like, but even that degenerates into whining electric guitar noise and repetitive two-part male vocals interrupted by tired-sounding guitar solos that fail to hold the song for anything approaching its six-minute length. Otherwise every track sounds almost identical. The other six-minute tune (“Tramp”) follows the same pattern as “Gwrach Y Nos” but doesn’t even bother with the languid opening. This is so far away from the band’s sound on their first two albums that I’m a bit surprised their management and label bothered to issue it under the Brân name.

I’m kind of disappointed since I’ve been waiting for a long time to hear the last Brân album after being somewhat taken by their modest and modern Welsh folk debut ‘Ail-Ddechra’. This thing doesn’t do anything for me, and it won’t do anything for you either, unless perhaps your idea of a classic prog folk band is April Wine or something. Not likely. And not surprising that half the band (drummer Bryan Griffiths and rhythm guitarist Len Jones) would end in up a hack blues-rock cover band (The Road Rats), schlepping their wares at county fairs on the European oldies circuit. I’ve no idea what happened to Gwyn, but I think I read somewhere he got into the movie production business. If this is the best he could do on his own without Howells, that’s probably just as well for all concerned.

If you are even remotely curious about Brân, check out ‘Ail-Ddechra’. You will undoubtedly be taken by Nest Howells’ near-operatic vocals and tender keyboards; when that happens, pick up anything by Pererin and you will surely be glad you did. But don’t bother with this thing – there’s a reason it is nearly impossible to find today and has only been reissued a couple of times on dubious Eastern European and Japanese labels. One star and not recommended.

peace