Caneuon Tyn Yr Hendy

Sain is proud to present Meinir Gwilym’s fifth solo album. With a career spanning over 20 years her true and honest songs have an ever popular appeal and her live performances always seem to replenish the soul whilst reaching the heart.

‘Caneuon Tyn yr Hendy’ (The Songs of Tyn yr Hendy) features 8 brand new songs and one bonus track, which is her latest single, ‘Goriad’. Meinir’s talent as a poet and musician once again shines on this album of songs which have all been composed during 2023 and recorded in a short space of time during November this year. “I have never recorded an album in such a short period of time”, says Meinir, “three weeks in all. It’s a varied collection of songs, and they have all grown naturally without any planning regarding style and genre. They vary from ballads to nostalgic 90s pop, to a scream of a song such as ‘Chwarter i Hanner’ (Quarter to Midnight). I’m looking forward to hearing the response to the album. I’m just thankful for the chance to write it.”

Partly recorded at home and partly at Stiwdio Sain., Stiwdio Un and Stiwdio Ofn, with engineers Sam Durrant, Osian Huw Williams and Aled Wyn Hughes, the album was produced by Meinir herself, with musical contributions by Ceiri Humphreys and Euron Jos (guitars), Twm Elis and Cai Llywelyn (drums), Bob Galvin, Osian and Aled (bass), and Edwin Humphreys (horns and sax). Alys Williams features on the emotional and tender ‘Yr Enfys a’r Frân’ and Gwenan Gibbard’s vocals and harp feature on the lively folk song ‘Rew di Ranno’.

‘Tân’ was co-written by Meinir and Gwyn Roberts (from 80s group ‘Ficar’), with Gwyn’s vocals featuring in the background, and ‘Hon yw ’Mharadwys i’ is a new version of a song written by Meinir’s grandfather, Tecwyn Gruffydd, and her mother Sioned – a song originally recorded by Sioned in 1983, and a song giving a vivid picture of this particular rural area of Anglesey which has such a beautiful name – Paradwys (‘Paradise’).

From the rawness and sincerity of ‘Dwi’m yn Cofio’ (I can’t remember), to the upbeat defiance of the album’s opening track, ‘Waliau’, Caneuon Tyn yr Hendy takes the listener on a journey full of adventure, love, longing, uncertainty and hope. In Meinir’s own words, “I hope the album will strike a familiar and new note at the same time. A great team has been working towards this release – a big thank you to them and let’s get this album out!”     

TRACK LISTING:

1. WALIAU
2. YR ENFYS A’R FRÂN
3. CHWARTER I HANNER
4. TÂN
5. DWI’M YN COFIO
6. REW DI RANNO
7. CHWARTER I HANNER (DEMO)
8. HON YW ’MHARADWYS I
9. GORIAD