Gwenno: Reveals an introspective focus on home and self.

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Tresor, which translates as Treasure, is Gwenno’s third album, and her second sung almost entirely in Cornish (Kernewek). Written in St. Ives, Cornwall, just prior to the lockdowns of 2020 and completed at home in Cardiff during the pandemic, Tresor reveals an introspective focus on home and self, a prescient work echoing the isolation and retreat that has been a central, global shared experience over the past two years.N.Y.C.A.W  is Gwenno new video. Cornish language art rocker Gwenno has just released her third album Tresor.

«A satirical prod at our current neoliberalist thinking, N.Y.C.A.W. (a well-known slogan in Wales against the rise of second homes) is a gentle reminder that community will always trump capitalism, and that all that matters in the end is love», Gwenno explains.

«We took a trip to Berlin to work with our good friend Steve Glashier, to celebrate the tradition of protest and as an homage to the brilliant Fideo 9 TV series which took Welsh language bands to Europe to film pop videos in the 90s».

Song Credits:

Written & performed by Gwenno

Produced & performed by Rhys Edwards

Director – Steve Glashier

Edit by Sedger

Lyrics

Unigolion oll

Ga i eich sylw os gwelwch yn dda? Chi yn y blaen, chi yn y cefn

Chi ar y chwith, chi ar y dde

A chwi oll yn y canol

Beth yw ein polisi ar gyfer pleser?

Gawn ni derfyn ar drafod ein holl ddiffygion

A chymryd mantais ar y cyfle i gofleidio ein cyd-ddyn?

Nid yw Cymru ar werth, nid yw Cymru ar werth, nid yw Cymru ar werth x2

Penderfyniadau pwyllgorau pwyllog

Sy’n atgyfnerthu goruchafiaeth ffiadd y farchnad

Sy’n rhydd i wneud be’ a fynno

Brandi a coke i fynd gyda dy frand di?

Fi ‘di blino ar fod yn flin

Â’r unigolyddiaeth ddi-chwaeth

Sy’n creu problem mâs o’r gwahaniaeth

Y gwahaniaeth gogoneddus sydd i’w ddathlu ym mhob man

Yr haenau’n cynyddu wrth i ni fynd yn ein blaenau

A’r oll y’n ni ‘gyd eisiau gwbod yn sicr

Yr unig beth sy’n bwysig

Yw cariad

Nid yw Cymru ar werth, nid yw Cymru ar werth, nid yw Cymru ar werth x2

Individuals all

Can I have your attention please?

You at the front, you at the back

You on the left, you on the right

All of you in the middle

What is our policy regarding pleasure? Can we stop all of these discussion about our failings?

And take advantage of being able to embrace one another?

Wales is not for sale, Wales is not for sale, Wales is not for sale x2

The decisions made by cautious committees reinforces the dominance of the vulgar market which is free to do what it wants.

A brandy and coke to go with your branding? I’m fed up of feeling angry

And the indecorous individualism

Which creates a problem out of the difference The glorious difference to be celebrated everywhere The layers increase as we keep going on

And the only thing we want to know, the only thing that really matters is love

Wales is not for sale, Wales is not for sale, Wales is not for sale x2

Men An Toll (also known as Mên-an-Toll) is a wonderful Bronze Age formation of standing stones near Madron, Cornwall», Gwenno explains. «With its obvious feminine symbolism its holed stone was believed to aid fertility. I was inspired by Ithell Colquhoun’s The Living Stones as well as the eternal nature of these ancient monuments and how they enable us to reflect on our own nature as human beings and on our relationship to the landscape. I sing, in Cornish “It’s completely obvious that I can’t escape from this…” I’m trying to express the moment when you connect with your own instinct, and accept what you are».

«With Men And Toll, I wanted to share a different and quieter side to the record, one that is grounded in the music that has had a big influence on both Rhys (Edwards, co-producer and musical collaborator)  and I – ambient Celtic music, film scores, and experimental electronic music. I’ve created a playlist of artists and songs which I think embody some of these elements, and having listened to so much music which soothes the soul over the past couple of years, I hope that this collection of songs will serve as a small and helpful reminder of how powerful the sound of gentleness and beauty is».

«An Stevel Nowydh (The New Room) is a song about finding yourself somewhere entirely new and realising that you’re completely lost, and acknowledging that the only thing to do in an existential crisis is to don your favourite hat and dance<‘ Gwenno explains. “The short is part of a longer film that I’ve created with Anglesey-born filmmaker Clare Marie Bailey due to be revealed this summer. It was shot on Super 8 in Bryn Celli Ddu, Mynydd Parys, and Porth Ia (St Ives) during Summer 2021, it was edited by Joan Pope and stars the incomparable Eddie Ladd as ‘Greddf’ (Instinct)».

Lyrics

An Stevel Nowydh

Dynargh dhis, esedh yn-nans – a eus hwans dhis a nafas?

Fatel a-genes?

Daras igerys

Skeus howl an gwav war leur lowarth

Dynargh dhis, esedh yn-nans – a eus hwans dhis a nafas?

Fatel a-genes?

Daras igerys

Skeus howl an gwav war leur lowarth

Awel dre’n fenestr

Ha mi, ha mi, ha mi, ha mi,

war ben ow honan

A yw’r gwacter ystyr yn rhan anochel o fod yn fyw?

A yw’r gwacter ystyr yn rhan anochel o fod yn fyw?

A yw’r gwacter ystyr yn rhan anochel o fod yn fyw?

A yw’r gwacter ystyr yn rhan anochel o fod yn fyw?

–

The New Room

Welcome, sit down – fancy a cuppa?

How are you?

The door is open

and the shadow of the afternoon hits the garden floor

Welcome, sit down – fancy a cuppa?

How are you?

The door is open

and the shadow of the afternoon hits the garden floor

a breeze through the window

and I’m here, I’m here, I’m here, I’m here,

all alone.

Is the total lack of meaning an inevitable part of being?

Is the total lack of meaning an inevitable part of being?

Is the total lack of meaning an inevitable part of being?

Is the total lack of meaning an inevitable part of being?

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