Vinyl is Alive!

As part of Absent but not Forgotten and in celebration of the Halloween season, the small exhibition of records in Bara Menyn Bakehouse, Cardigan has transformed…

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Absent but not Forgotten is an ongoing, experimental art project formed in 2010 by west Wales artists, Kathryn Campbell Dodd and Jacob Whittaker.

Their work explores and alludes to ideas of the paranormal, ghost hunting and the propensity to search for supernatural explanations to unexpected and unexplained phenomena.

With a particular interest in the visual aesthetics of the genre, this changing selection of records combines rock and pop, classic soundtracks, spoken word and sound effects to explore the diverse and evocative imagery in celebration of the Halloween season.

Absent but not Forgotten are also currently in the Oriel Blodau Bach gallery with a new work, Something Strange in the Neighbourhood.  The exhibition runs until November 16th.

 

Cymanfa Ganu 1969, Morriston and the Morriston Orpheus Choir

The Cymanfa Ganu, hymn singing festival, is an enduring tradition in Wales and around the world.

‘Wherever Welshmen congregate, be it at a rugby international match in Cardiff, or as a group of exiles in some distant corner of the earth, one thing is certain – there will be singing.’ (Gwyn Griffiths, Cymanfa Ganu 1969 sleeve notes).

I have at least 12 copies of this 1969 Cymanfa Ganu Morriston record and have used it repeatedly over the years.  It was a staple part of the Vinyl Altar mixes during the GWRANDO Capeli project and I used some of the covers for a work in Oriel Blodau Bach in 2015.

Cymanfa Ganu 1969

Formed in 1935 the Morriston Orpheus choir has an international reputation and an impressive back catalogue of recordings!

Here’s a few…

Morriston Orpheus Choir - Land of my Fathers

Morriston Orpheus Choir - Land of my Fathers

The Morriston Orpheus Choir - Songs from the green hills

The Morriston Orpheus Choir

Swansea Records / Recordiau Abertawe

Swansea recordings include this one by Horizon Recordings ltd, Dylan Thomas House, 32 Alexandra rd

Cor Merched Meirion

This from Swan Records Limited, Swansea. No mention of whereabouts in Swansea they were based…a fine figure of a hound though!

To Love and be Loved - Ieuan R Evans

and these from Recordiau Mynydd Mawr, who were at 381 Gors Avenue, Cockett, Swansea

Cymanfa Ganu Fodern

Cor Telyn Teilo a Bois y Blacbord - Emyn a Thelyn a Thant

Dylan Thomas House on Alexandra rd was where the BBC recorded the 1963 version of Under Milk Wood with Richard Burton apparently.  I don’t seem to have that one but found this one from 1954.  (BBC article about the 1954 version)

Under Milk Wood