Friday, December 10, 2004

Conspiracy?

There’s nothing like a good conspiracy theory. Elfyn Llwyd MP has suggested UK security services were involved in some arson attacks blamed on Welsh fire bombers in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
Here’s also an interesting article about the fire-bombing campaign an lack of police success by Alwyn Gruffydd in the Daily Post. I can’t help laughing about the ‘arrest of Wali Thomas’:

The efforts at catching the arsonists became high farce in 1990 when detectives raided the home of singer and actor Bryn Fôn [and arrested him], who had recorded a popular song denigrating the police's lack of success in halting the campaign.
….
A cast member of S4C football sitcom C'mon Midffild , the whole scenario became even more bizarre when fellow cast member Mei Jones was also arrested, along with another actor, Dyfed Thomas. "In the public's eyes, it wasn't Mei Jones the actor who was arrested, but Wali Tomos [village idiot of fictitious village of Bryncoch] the linesman," adds Gruffydd..
"Reality and C'mon Midffild got all mixed up. The officer arresting Bryn Fôn told him that Bryncoch would have to find a new goalie, so even the policemen were getting confused!"



Picture of Wali Thomas, ‘Wales’ most wanted’!

A good point he raises is
With MI5 and other branches of the secret services drafted in to help catch those responsible, the game moved up a dangerous gear as whole communities of Welsh speakers suddenly came under surveillance.
It engendered a mistrust between the public and the police which some believe is still evident today in North Wales Police's admitted difficulties in recruiting Welsh speakers.

Thursday, December 02, 2004

But why the name?

The name of this blog is taken from a translation of the title of a song called Gwenu dan Fysiau by a band called Datblygu.

Hailed as the first truly modern Welsh language group Datblygu were formed by schoolboys David R.Edwards and T.Wyn Davies in 1982. Joined in 1985 by Patricia Morgan this classic line up started a revolution in Welsh music with their singles on the Anhrefn label in the mid eighties which were followed be a stream of John Peel radio sessions and incendiary live appearances.
(from the Ankst website)

I'm indebted to a friend of mine called Bleddyn who introduced me to the band's music while I worked with him in 1999, but unfortunately the band had stopped playing in 1995. This is a perfect example of the dire situation of modern Welsh music, where a Welsh speaker like myself attended a Welsh medium highschool in the mid 90's (this is a subject I'll post about again), but due to the attitude of broadcasters and media in Wales I knew nothing of the thriving Welsh music scene and missed out on loads of wonderfull bands like Datblygu and Ffa Coffi Pawb (Gruff Rhys' band prior to SFA). I'm aware of these bands now of course, and thankfully there has be a ressurgence in interest in them recently, so mush so that there have been 2 'Best of Of' Cd's released for both bands. See Wyau/Pyst/Libertino and Ffa Coffi Pawb Am Byth. They are fucking great, but don't take my word for it, have a listen:

Datblygu MP3's
Ffa Coffi Pawb MP3's