Iona ac Andy, Y Ffordd, SAIN SCD2541

CountryGwlad

Iona ac Andy, Y Ffordd

‘Y Ffordd’ is their 6th album for SAIN records. **Iona comes from a folk background and Andy from rock ‘n roll both facets of which are reflected on this album as well as the country music feel they are perhaps best known for. In fact it could be described as a folk, rock, country, acoustic compilation of great songs new and old.

Maartin Allcock was asked to produce the album, he’s a hugely respected musician who has been part of two of the most important folk/rock bands of the last 20 years - Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull. His multi instrumental skills are much in evidence on the album and he brought a new feel and sound to some of their music. Alongside Maartin, some of the finest musicians from the North of England were brought on board. Iain Bradshaw on keyboards and Dave Rowlands on pedal steel and dobro, were joined by Len Whitehead on guitar and a wonderful young fiddle player from Belfast called Eimar Bradley. For backing vocals Iona called on her cousin Mirain Haf and friend Carwyn Llyr. Their fine harmony singing added a new dimension to Iona & Andy’s vocals, the two cousins blending especially well on ‘Y Gwir’. The songs were gathered together from a number of different sources. Iona wrote a song about sharing her love for the place she was born with the love of her partner, ‘Lle yn fy Nghalon’ while Andy who is of course a Welsh learner is very proud of writing his first song in Welsh ‘Ffydd, Gobaith a Chariad’. ‘I liked the idea of using the well known biblical verse as the basis for a love song” he explains. The title track, ‘Y Ffordd’ a powerful ballad by Alun Sbardun Hughes also marks a first as he has also written an English version for the album.

There are also songs composed by other Welsh singer-songwriters – Huw Chiswell, Alistair James, Eurof Williams, Meic Stevens and Geraint Jarman. After 27 years in the business it is nice to make an album which accurately reflects where our music is today says Andy.

Tracks -

1: Yn ol atati ti

2: Lle yn fy Nghalon

3: Y Ffordd

4: Ffydd, Gobaith a Chariad

5: Can i Ynys Iona

6: Y Gwir

7: Ser ar y Tonnau

8: Can y Bugail

9: Os Duw Cariad Yw

10: Calon Galed

11: Gweddi Fyw

12: Caru Ti

13: The Road

14: Song for Iona.

Mae ‘Y Ffordd’ yn albwm sy’n cwmpasu nifer o arddulliau gan gynnwys canu gwlad, acwstig, gwerin, roc a baledi pwerus. Ysgrifennwyd nifer o’r caneuon gan gyfansoddwyr fel Meic Stevens, Huw Chiswell, Alun Sbardun Hughes, Eurof Williams, Alistair James, y gyfansoddwraig Americanaidd Kathy Chiavola, yn ogystal â Iona ac Andy eu hunain.

Cynhyrchwyd yr albwm gan Maartin Allcock, cerddor a chynhyrchydd amryddawn sydd â blynyddoedd o brofiad yn perfformio gyda rhai o enwau mawr canu gwerin ym Mhrydain - Cat Stevens, Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention, Beth Nielsen Chapman a mwy. Mae Maart a’i wraig wedi ymgartrefu ym mhentref Llanfair ger Harlech, ac mae Maart yn falch o’r cyfle i ymarfer ei Gymraeg wrth weithio yn stiwdio SAIN.

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