Hen Ogledd

Hen Ogledd sounds like a transmission from a parallel Britain where the medieval and the digital never separated. It is a lush, often confusing tapestry of sound that places Rhodri Davies's virtuosic harp playing alongside Richard Dawson's jagged guitar and a wash of vintage synthesizers. The music feels deeply rooted in the earth and the past, yet it uses electronic textures to create something entirely alien and forward-facing.

What makes them truly distinctive is their approach to harmony and structure. Instead of traditional pop hooks, they rely on interlocking vocal lines and rhythmic patterns that feel slightly off-kilter, as if the songs are breathing at their own irregular pace. There is a sense of collective joy in their experimentation, a 'free human' spirit that allows for moments of pure noise to transition into beautiful, crystalline melodies without warning.

Start with the album 'Free Humans'. It is their most expansive and realized work, capturing the full breadth of their ability to turn abstract concepts into infectious, albeit weird, art-pop. It serves as the perfect gateway into their world of mythological storytelling and sonic playfulness.