Trwbador -‘Trwbador (Owlet Music)

Trwbador are the duo of half Welsh half Dutch Angharad Van Rijswijk and guitarist/producer Owain Gwilym. Recorded in their attic in Carmarthenshire (well, that’s what the press release says, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, so I’ll stick with that), their debut album is a real delight.

Rather like Cornershop, with whom they have collaborated, Trwbador are able to draw on a wide range of -very disparate- influences and yet have an eye on how to write actual, y’know, songs. First single ‘Safe’ is a case in point, where it starts off with the listener thinking that this boy and girl could give Chvrches a run for their money, and then somehow going off in a totally different direction. Like Kate Bush doing a capella with Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares.

Given that they’re welsh, and and there is a pastoral folk side to their music, comparisons will undoubtedly be made to the late, lamented Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. This is perhaps most in evidence on ‘Lluniau’ – which also acknowledges the electronica of acts like Four Tet and Bonobo.

A treat of a listen and one which I have been hugely enjoying over the last few weeks. One of the most lovely and unusual debuts you’re likely to hear this year.

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Trwbador is out now on Owlet Music.