UK, IE, US, CA ONLY
Cerys Hafana - Angel - 1CD
26/09/2025
GBCD 178
Artist:
Cerys Hafana
Label:
tak:til
Sound Carrier:
1CD
Barcode:
4030433617823
SONGLINES 5/5
"Discord and polyrhythms are delicately balanced against accessible melody on this quiet little masterpiece. Tracks like 'Carol Mynyddog' are increasingly devastating, building towards something truly unsettling, while '350 Mlynedd' and 'Drexelius' are gently minimal, like the pattering of summer rain on the roof … Hafana's compositions tap into the dark underbelly of fairytales, a terror we all know is there, but do our best to ignore Hafana makes ignorance impossible, and thrills us in the process.” (Top of the World Album)
+ 3-page feature + name included on the cover
MOJO - 4/5
“… a melange of twinkling strings, austere improv and Henry Cow side-project vibes. Enchanting.”
KLOF MAG
News feature about the album, first single and UK tour dates (3 July 2025)
+ “Helynt Ryfeddol” is included on their Mixtape: KLOF No. 49 (Folk, Ambient, Experimental) (4 July 2025)
+ “Helynt Ryfeddol” is included in their Monday Morning Brew playlist (#110/ 7 July 2025) here and here
SILENT RADIO
“….their music […] takes in elements of traditional, avant-folk and minimalism as well as a sizeable serving of other-worldly magic … ‘Angel’ […] weaves its spell ... rare magic.”
+ Interview (21 August 2025)
THE GUARDIAN FOLK ALBUM OF THE MONTH - 4/5
"...this exceptional musician draws from folk story, Breton influences and nature to explore the sublime potential of its title"
THE WIRE
1-page feature (October 2025, issue 500 of the Wire
+ October UK tour dates included in their listing (October 2025)
+ Album review, included in Francis Gooding’s Global reviews column (September 2025)
+ Cerys has put together a Wire 15 Chart, entitled Pale and Priest-like 15 (September 2025)
+ Cerys Hafana’s October 2025 UK tour dates are listed on The Wire website
"The album opens with the lowering, dark-hued "Helynt Ryfeddol", which runs skittering, rolling polyrhythms against hand percussion, bass and alto […] It's raw, urgent and affecting music, and it sets the tone for a hugely assured album that feels like a major arrival. Moving between instrumental and vocal cuts, Hafana builds hugely powerful swells of feeling and atmosphere, with their virtuosity on both harp and piano allowing a push beyond avant folk toward darkling, rain-washed minimalism and sharp-eyed jazznot-jazz. Don't sleep.”
UNCUT
Album review (October 2025)
“Alternating between Welsh-language songs and instrumental pieces, Hafana essays a bold mix of folk tradition and auteur experimentalism ... With an angelic voice [...] that boasts the same beguiling simplicity as Vashti Bunyan, one might imagine the entire album as a Cymraeg companion to Just Another Diamond Day.” 7/10
MOJO
Album will be included in the Folk reviews column (issue out 16 September 2025)
SONGLINES
Feature due (October/ November 2025 issue, out 26 September 2025 -> this is their WOMEX issue)
+ Top of the World album review due + “350 Mlynedd’” to be featured on the covermount CD (October/ November issue, out 26 September 2025)
+ August and September 2025 festival dates listed in the gig guide (August 2025)
+ the feature, due in the October/ November 2025 issue, is being previewed, with a photo, in the September 2025 issue in their "Next Issue…" section
RADIO
- BBC Introducing with Adam Walton show on BBC Radio Wales
- Global Instruments on Resonance 104.4fm 23 September 2025 (A special with Cerys Hafana)
- Huw Stephens on BBC Radio Cymru
- Weekend on BBC World Service
- Soundwaves on BBC Radio 3 Unwind
- Music Planet on BBC Radio 3
- Night Tracks on BBC Radio 3
- Dream Time with Zakia Sewell on BBC Radio 6 Music
- Riley & Coe on BBC Radio 6 Music
- BBC Introducing with Adam Walton on BBC Radio Wales
- Georgia Ruth on BBC Radio Cymru
- Caschlár on BBC Radio Foyle (BBC’s Northern Ireland radio network, Radio Ulster)
- Baba Yaga’s Hut on Resonance FM
- A World in London with DJ Ritu on Resonance 104.4fm
- Instruments Of The World on Resonance 104.4fm
- Nick Luscombe on One Jazz
- Planet Waves on Celtic Music Radio on 1530 AM Glasgow & online
- Misty's Mellow Mix on ALLFM 96.9 (Manchester)
- Strange Fruit on Miskin Radio (North West Kent)
- Podwireless on Mixloud & Podomatic (fRoots' online radio)
- Afternoon Session with Andy Roberts on Radio Cardiff 98.7
- Blabber & Smoke on Phonic FM Exeter
Acclaimed Welsh composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist Cerys Hafana's third album Angel, is a deep exploration of minimalism, traditional and avant-folk music and Hafana's primary instrument the Welsh triple harp. The album alternates between vocal songs (all sung in the Welsh language) and instrumentals, often buoyed by a deft trio of sympathetic and exploratory musicians (drums, double bass, alto sax).
The uncommon breadth and innovation of Angel soundly confirms Hafana as one of the UK's most exciting young contemporary folk artists. Their spellbinding music is rich with atmosphere and heart and stubbornly resistant to genre boxes and easy classification.
UK/EU tour dates:
16.08.2025 – UK – Suffolk – FolkEast Festival, Sotterley Estate
22.08.2025 – UK – Candelston Woods – Between The Trees Festival
24.08.2025 – UK – Northamptonshire – Shambala Festival
31.08.2025 – UK – Birmingham – Moseley Folk Festival
02.10.2025 – UK – Bristol – St George’s
03.10.2025 – UK – Liverpool – Liverpool Phil
04.10.2025 – UK – Cardiff – The Gate
05.10.2025 – UK – Somerset – All Saints’ Church
08.10.2025 – UK – Manchester – Band on the Wall
09.10.2025 – UK – Newcastle – Cobalt Studio
10.10.2025 – UK – Glasgow – Glad Cafe
11.10.2025 – UK – Sheffield – Firth Hall
12.10.2025 – UK – London – St Matthias Church
16.10.2025 – UK – Falmouth – Falmouth Parish Church
17.10.2025 – UK – Barrelhouse – Totnes
18.10.2025 – UK – Wiltshire – Wiltshire Music Centre
21.10.2025 – UK – Aberystwyth – Aberystwyth Arts Centre
24.10.2025 – UK – Dolgellau – Ty Siamas
25.10.2025 – UK – Bethesda – Neuadd Ogwen
01.11.2025 – BE – Dranouter – Muziekcentrum
06.11.2025 – NO – Oslo – Riksscenen
08.11.2025 – DK – Alice – Copenhagen – Denmark
13.11.2025 – DE – Hannover – Feinkost Lampe
14.11.2025 – DE – Cologne – Wohngemeinschaft
15.11.2025 – NL – Amsterdam – Tolhuistuin Zuinig
1. Helynt Ryfeddol
2. O'r Coed
3. Drexelius
4. Carol Mynyddog
5. An Dro
6. Ffarwel i f'Ieuenctid
7. 350 Mlynedd
8. Angel
9. Atsain
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