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Playlist for the 30 New Welsh Artists Challenge: 29 August 2010

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Adam Walton Adam Walton | 11:52 UK time, Tuesday, 31 August 2010

This week's show demonstrates how a rather absurd and ill-thought out idea can metamorphosise into something quite good, actually*.

This time last week, mindful that the playlist for that Sunday's programme - good though it was - contained hardly any new names, I set myself the task of finding 30 artists I'd never played before. And I made a song and dance about it in these here blogs. In retrospect, what I was really saying was this:

Hey, everyone! I haven't been doing my job properly recently... read all about it here, and help me dig myself out of the deep hole I dug with my spade wrought from complacency and my pick wielded by nepotistic laziness.

Yep, that's what I was really saying.

But the response to the blog was fantastic. Word spread quickly. I got to speak on proper morning radio with Lisa Rogers (who agreed with me, far too readily I thought, that I'm a bit pompous about these things). Tens of mates, colleagues, listeners, bands and savvy strangers, decorated my inbox with brilliant recommendations. The end result was a pile of .mp3s that would - if manifested as individual CDs and stacked in a teetering pile - have reached all the way to the moon. Well, okay, the top of a stunted fruit tree.

I tell you, there was a lot of listening.

Every meal was taken goggle-eared in front of the computer. I became a hermit devoted to fuzz and bedroom recordings.

My beard tickled the floor.

My daughter grew a whole new ponytail.

Thinking I'd finally got lost up my own bum, my wife cashed in a life insurance policy and treated herself to a Bounty with the proceeds.

And, on occasion, I whooped with joy during those long hours unaware of whether it was day or night. Mostly I growled in frustration. Or hammered a sanctimonious fist into the desk in front of me. Because there is far more rubbish music in the world than great music. And although I want to hear the best in everything that is sent to me, there are an inexplicable number of bands out there who are determined to make that impossible. Most of them have names that glory in deliberate misspellings. At least I hope they're deliberate. And none of them sound like they like music very much.

I sent some far-too-honest emails during those long, small hours. I'll definitely have to go in disguise if I ever visit Crickhowell.

But here it is, the end result of all that invigorating aural cross pollination. It's a show that is built entirely on a foundation of goodwill and great tips. Thank you, each and every one of you, for taking the trouble to bother my inbox. The rubbish stuff just threw into excellent stark contrast the brilliant music that also arrived.

And the quest continues... more music, please, to themysterytour@gmail.com - fresh innovation will receive much positive discrimination.

This show is my favourite of recent times, for what that's worth. Check it out, if you have time and the inclination. Greatness lurks within.

Thank you / diolch yn fawr!

* this is false modesty multiplied to the power of disingenuous self-deprecation. I think the show is brilliant.

(Aberystwyth)
Lavalamp

(Cardiff)
Through

(Mountain Ash)
9 In 10

(Cardiff)
Clown Catches Fly

(Newport)
Open Room

(Mold)
I Don't Want To See You Like This

(Pontypool)
Ookami

(Cardiff)
Man Vs. Horse

(Swansea)
Call Out

(Monmouthshire)
Sparks Don't Fly

(Newport)
Sit Tight

(Cardiff)
Fata Morgana (excerpt)

(Cardiff)
Holly (tidal Barrage Remix)

(Cardiff)
I'm Gone

EDITIONS (Newport)
Ready Set Go

JOHNNY FLYNN
Session Track For Beth Elfyn From Green Man

(Cardiff)
Autumn

(Ammanford)
Ten

(Cardiff)
In Hiding (demo)

(Cardiff label)
Prison Driveway 159bpm

(Cardiff)
Brother

(Newport)
When She Hurt Me

(Wrexham)
Looking Like A Fairytale

(Holyhead)
Mae Dy Ffrindiau (gyd Am Dy Ladd Di)

(Wrexham)
Morning Caergwrle

(Bangor)
Two Moles

(Caernarfon)
Y Gog Lwydlas

(Cardiff)
Into Ashes

(Cardiff)
Spion Kop

(Cardiff)
Refrigerator Blues

(Cardiff)
Alicetone

JACK HADLEY (Valleys)
Grasshopper

MUTE LEO (Buckley label)
Creative Thinking

(Newport)
Beat Oven

(Cardiff)
Advice For A Device

(Milford Haven)
Not As Old

(Rhondda)
Shame On You

STARING AT SPORTS CARS CRYING
It's Raining

(Cardiff)
Love Lost To Melody

(Swansea)
Ignorance

(Cardiff)
You're So Good To Me

(Cardiff)
End Of The World

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Great show and thanks for your sterling efforts in gathering the tracks. I particularly enjoyed Muto Leo (and not Mute Leo as you list them). I've seen them live in Liverpool - and they're on tonight at Le Bateau.

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