Tân

Tân, the Welsh and Breton word for ‘fire’, is the eagerly awaited new album from acclaimed Welsh singer Lleuwen. It is the result of an exciting new musical partnership between her and the experimental double bass player, Vincent Guerin. They co-produced the album and played all the instruments: Lleuwen on guitars, drums and zither, Vincent on bass, more drums and some ukulele. They also played pots and pans and other kitchen implements! Lleuwen and Vincent believe that they really have found something magical together and think that Tân is just the start of a musical partnership that they hope will grow. They have adopted an open, childlike approach to their music making – anything goes! This enthusiasm and freedom of spirit is imprinted throughout the album, which delights the ear from start to finish. Lleuwen is currently living between Wales and Brittany. She originally went to Brittany to perform at a concert at the Lorient Festival. However as soon as she heard Breton she fell in love with it and made it her mission to return as soon as possible to learn the language and get to know the true spirit of the land. She now lives in the town of Carhaix (Karaez in Breton) in Central Brittany. Welsh and Breton are, of course, closely related and Lleuwen feels that another colour has been added to her life (an occasional actress, she has been delighted to have been given the opportunity to perform in two Breton theatre plays). There are four Breton songs on Tân, three by Lleuwen and the other by the renowned Breton poet, Lan Tangi. Tân follows on from Lleuwen’s 2007 release, Penmon, her first album to feature her own songs. Prior to that Lleuwen’s 2005 album of Welsh hymns rendered with an innovative and fresh approach, Duw a Wyr/God Only Knows, with Huw Warren and Mark Lockheart featured as one of the Observer Music Monthly’s top twenty albums and was awarded 4 stars by London’s Time Out magazine. Rave reviews also appeared in Mojo, The Financial Times and The Guardian. “Once heard, you can’t help but fall under the singer’s spell. File under: leftfield classic.” (Jazzwise on Penmon – 4-stars) “…. Lleuwen is one of the more quirkily intriguing singers on the new Welsh music scene… She deserves a wider audience..” (The Guardian) “This is unique… An amazing album.” (Acoustic magazine on Penmon)

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