THE ALTERNATIVE WALES SOUNDTRACK #21
james cuff (welsh music podcast)
All-time favourite album:
That’s such a hard one to answer and it probably changes on a weekly basis. But, I’d have to go with Oasis’ classic debut, Definitely Maybe. I say that Noel Gallagher taught me how to play guitar which isn’t technically true but, this album changed my life and made me pick up a guitar. I still get shivers down my spine when I hear the intro of Rock N’ Roll Star.
Favourite Welsh language album:
Has to be the Furries’ lo-fi masterpiece Mwng. We produced a documentary episode of the Welsh Music Podcast celebrating its 20th anniversary last year and it reminded me, not that I needed it, how important an album it is.
Favourite record by a Welsh band/artist:
Another one that’s almost impossible to answer but it has to be another Furries one - Guerilla. It’s an eclectic collection of songs and a seamless musical journey at the same time. It’s so upbeat and the singles are pop perfection.
Favourite new Welsh band/artist:
I really liked what I heard from Gwenllian Adwaith’s other project Tacsidermi with their debut single Gwir and looking forward to hearing more from them.
3 dream festival headliners:
SFA, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, Adwaith
An underrated band/artist:
3 Hwr Doeth. North-Walian hip hop collective on the Noddfa label. Peerless outsiders ripping up the rule book. Biji biji bo!
A song that reminds you of a particular memory:
One Day Like This by Elbow reminds me of my wedding day. We got married in Central Park in New York and had a classical guitarist playing it as my wife (to be at that point) walked down the makeshift aisle.
Go to album when you’re down:
Guerilla.
Go to record to get you worked up:
Nirvana’s Nevermind never fails.
A lyric that resonates with you:
I should say ‘If you’ve lost your faith in love and music, the end won’t be long’ from The Libertines’ song The Good Old Days. I had it tattooed on my arm after going through a difficult time to remind me of the importance of music and friendship which helped get me through it. But, I’m going to say ‘O ma bywyd mor braf’ which means ‘life is so beautiful’ in Welsh and comes from Yws Gwynedd’s absolute banger ‘Sebona Fi’. Yws is a legend. We had him on the podcast and he talked about wanting to write the most positive song in the world ever, after going through a difficult time. It’s a joyous tune and you can’t help but sing along to that line with a beaming smile on your face. Maybe I need a new tattoo?
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