Barafundle
1997Fontana Records
The breakthrough. Patio Song is one of the great lost Welsh singles.
The most eccentric and most charming Welsh band of their era. Patio Song is a lost classic.
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Gorky's Zygotic Mynci formed in Carmarthen in 1991, Euros Childs's eccentric songwriting and the band's psychedelic folk sound giving them a quality that was unlike anything else in British music. They recorded in both Welsh and English, their bilingual approach reflecting a genuine engagement with Welsh culture and identity.
'Barafundle' (1997) was the breakthrough — 'Patio Song', 'Merched Yn Neud Gwallt Eu Gilydd', and 'Young Girls & Happy Endings' were all excellent. The album showed a band capable of real melodic invention and genuine strangeness. 'Gorky 5' (1998) and 'Spanish Dance Troupe' (1999) maintained the quality.
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci split in 2006, leaving behind a body of work that has been reassessed very positively in recent years. Childs has had a successful solo career. The band's combination of psychedelic folk, Welsh language, and genuine eccentricity made them one of the most distinctive British bands of their era.
Fontana Records
The breakthrough. Patio Song is one of the great lost Welsh singles.
Fontana Records
A strong follow-up. Sweet Johnny is one of their most enduring songs.
Mantra Recordings
Their most accessible album. Stood on Gold is a career highlight.
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