Recorded with the help of Welsh production guru Gorwel Owen and featuring past guests Simon James and Martin Smith from the Wizards of Twiddly throughout on various brass and wind instruments, Barafundle found Gorky's merrily coming to grips with major-label status without a worry. If anything, Barafundle did showcase where the band would go in future years, toning down the crazier side of the group in favor of a calmer, more quietly inventive approach, though not without some high-volume parts. John Lawrence still keeps the fractured side of things going, though it's no surprise he would leave after a couple more albums, taking the more overtly "mushroom" qualities with him -- he still gets in some fun zingers here, though, including the nutty "The Wizard and the Lizard." Otherwise, though, this is an album soundtracking rural Welsh summers that may only exist in myth, but still work well for that. The two singles from the album are both great -- "Diamond Dew," a folk/psych trip with a nicely rocking chorus, and "Patio Song," a winning stroll through winsome romance spiked with just the right odd bits ("isn't it a lovely day?/my patio's on fire"). The album as a whole merrily moves along, bringing in a bit of drama here and there ("The Barafundle Bumbler" and its just-edgy-enough verses, the full on electric crunch of "Meirion Wyltt") but otherwise things are sweetly sedate, as with the instrumental "Cursed, Coined and Crucified." Childs' singing is as wonderful as always -- the man was just born to sing in that gentle, honeyed fashion -- while Lawrence's no less fine vocals add just the right glaze to songs like the suddenly medieval "Starmoonsun" and "Sometimes the Father is the Son." U.S. versions added the later single "Young Girls and Happy Endings" as a bonus. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide
Simon James (Flute), Simon James (Sax (Tenor)), Simon James (Brass), Rick McCollum (Art Direction), Martin Smith (Trumpet), Martin Smith (Horn), Martin Smith (Brass), John Lawrence (Bass), John Lawrence (Guitar), John Lawrence (Piano), John Lawrence (Guitar (Electric)), John Lawrence (Guitar (Steel)), John Lawrence (Jew's-Harp), John Lawrence (Organ (Hammond)), John Lawrence (Recorder), John Lawrence (Vocals), John Lawrence (Vocals (Background)), John Lawrence (Voices), John Lawrence (Multi Instruments), John Lawrence (Handclapping), John Lawrence (Chant), John Lawrence (Bodhran), John Lawrence (Spanish Guitar), John Lawrence (E-Bow), John Lawrence (Wurlitzer), John Lawrence (Vox Organ), Gorky's Zygotic Mynci (Main Performer), Stuart Evans (Flute), Stuart Evans (Shawm), Richard Lewis (Photography), Kevin Metcalfe (Mastering), Andrew Frizell (Flute), Andrew Frizell (Trombone), Andrew Frizell (Brass), Gorwel Owen (Piano), Gorwel Owen (Harmonium), Gorwel Owen (Organ (Hammond)), Gorwel Owen (Moog Synthesizer), Gorwel Owen (Multi Instruments), Gorwel Owen (Producer), Gorwel Owen (Engineer), Gorwel Owen (Farfisa Organ), Gorwel Owen (Mixing), Gorwel Owen (Vox Organ), Pat Pope (Photography), Merton Gauster (Photography), Donald Christie (Photography), Euros Childs (Synthesizer), Euros Childs (Piano), Euros Childs (Harmonium), Euros Childs (Keyboards), Euros Childs (Organ (Hammond)), Euros Childs (Vocals), Euros Childs (Vocals (Background)), Euros Childs (Voices), Euros Childs (Moog Synthesizer), Euros Childs (Multi Instruments), Euros Childs (Narrator), Euros Childs (Handclapping), Euros Childs (Noise), Euros Childs (Mellotron), Euros Childs (Farfisa Organ), Euros Childs (Spanish Guitar), Euros Childs (Wurlitzer), Euros Childs (Vox Organ), Megan Childs (Piano), Megan Childs (Violin), Megan Childs (Organ (Hammond)), Megan Childs (Vocals), Megan Childs (Vocals (Background)), Megan Childs (Multi Instruments), Megan Childs (Handclapping), Richard James (Bass), Richard James (Piano), Richard James (Guitar (Bass)), Richard James (Guitar (Steel)), Richard James (Keyboards), Richard James (Organ (Hammond)), Richard James (Vocals (Background)), Richard James (Multi Instruments), Richard James (Handclapping), Richard James (Spanish Guitar), Richard James (Piano Strings), Dave Buchanan (Assistant Engineer)
Barafundle is the title of a 1997 album by Welsh band Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, and is highly regarded by such websites as allmusic as their finest creation. Songs are often sung in both Welsh and English, and the album's influences range from
twee-pop to traditional folk music. The album's title
comes from the name of a beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Lynn Childs, father of singer Euros and violinist Megan, plays shawm and other traditional instruments on the album's occasional
medieval interludes (for example, on "Starmoonsun").
Track listing
All songs written by Euros Childs unless otherwise stated.
Search for answers directly from your browser with the FREE Answers.com Toolbar! Click here to download now. Get Answers your way! Check out all our free tools and products.