Wales has a rich psychedelic lineage. There must be super strength mushrooms in the valleys, with Wales responsible for producing everyone from prog rockers Man to Super Furry Animals head honcho Gruff Rhys.
Now we can welcome H. Hawkline. A mainstay of Cardiff’s always vital DIY scene, the songwriter was previously a member of Means Heinz – a group who contained Cate Le Bon and Sweet Baboo in their number.
Now gaining acceptance as solo artists, perhaps it’s time for H. Hawkline to step into the limelight. Recently developing a fine line in rough ‘n’ ready field recordings – stretching the acoustic template until it breaks – it seems that H. Hawkline is ready to re-discover the humble pop song.
‘Black Domino Box’ is a new EP, out on Trash Aesthetics. Fusing his experimental whims with linear songcraft, Welsh hero Gruff Rhys oversaw proceedings.
What emerges is a document that is both familiar and startling, easy to listen to yet difficult to understand. Take the title track: the gently strummed acoustic guitar could be Donovan, perched on a tree swing during a long summer evening.
But it seems to oscillate, the picture blurring like one of Syd Barret’s more fragmented solo moments. The lyrics are gently, patiently surreal – sitting that English tradition of Lewis Carroll et al yet with a very localised, Welsh (Cardiff-ian?) twist.
Listen to it now…
‘Black Domino Box’ is out on August 20th.
Photo Credit: Kirsten McTernan
