Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog are a Welsh alt country / folk rock / rock, built around the core of brothers, Iwan, Aled and Dafydd Hughes. The cover shot with hand written lettering over a timeless shot of hunkered down rural building under a big sky sets up the earthy buccolic music of the band perfectly. For us non speakers, the welsh lyrics are a layer of the exotic over the shimmering, jangling music of Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog on this, this band’s sixth album with the trio joined by Branwen Haf Williams and Georgia Ruth vocals, Euron Jones pedal steel and Gethin Griffiths keyboards.
“Clawdd Eithin” (Gorse Bush) has a note of longing in this song of growing, with a gentle acoustic guitar start and a superb pedal steel guitar build. “Defodau” (Rituals) is, an acoustic, pared back tender love song, again with tasteful pedal steel. With Georgia Ruth adding vocals, the title track, “Mynd ar Ty am Dro” (Taking The House For A Walk) is a beautifully tense Rock song. Fine guitar and drum parts build terrific tension behind a moody duet about unwanted change from. Iwan and Georgia. Beautifully sequenced “”Halltur Dydd” (Salt Curing The Day) keeps that Rock tension going with terse smouldering guitar bass and drums on a song a particularly fine day. The band roll nicely with a touch of classic West Coast 60 jam band in the way they swing while stretching out. “Adenydd” (Wings) a song about break ups and writer’s block is a fine slice of classic Country Rock, tender and heartfelt. Short and fiesty, “Tosol” (Crowbar) opens with some jagged Neil Young guitar, tempered electric organ and beautiful harmonies. “Magl” (Snare) is a beautiful shimmering song about Iwan’s then new-born son. Minimal drums and anthemic ethereal guitars create real beauty in a touching real life moment. “Cyrraedd Glan” ( Reaching Shore), a poem by Iwan Llwyd set to music during lockdown is full of simple beauty with voices and a harp like guitar glowing from the speakers. A very Neil Young harmonica features on “Cyrraedd Glan” and alongside seething electric guitar on the superb “Blodau Haearn Blodau Glo” (Iron Flowers Coal Flowers). The song by Bob Delyn a’r Ebillion, originally recorded on their 1992 record Gedon, is stirring and anthemic. In 2024 Cowboid Rhos Botwnnog, keep the anthemic quality, but raise the heat with “Ohio” electric guitars and seething West Coast desert music swagger. A suitably stirring closer. Iwan Hughes graciously recommends you check out Bob Delyn a’r Ebillion’s Gedon and i’d agree. I would recommend you check out the tender passion and sound of Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog, their rootsy sound is classic and feels like an old friend. Oh and definitely turn it up.
Marc Higgins 24/03/24
https://crhb.bandcamp.com/album/mynd-r-t-am-dro
Self released 9 tracks
Time Past and Time Passing 