Gorky's Zygotic Mynci Barafundle by Sara Shapouri Hollywood Records When I first heard Gorky's Zygotic Mynci it was a genuine surprise. I was listening to a new compilation from the British music magazine Select, expecting and receiving the traditional Brit-pop that I had come to know so well, with bands like Blur, Dodgy, and Suede crooning about. Suddenly, a new sound took over my stereo, something very enchanting and mysterious. I can only liken this experience to a time when I was in the fifth grade, worshiping the world of Casey Kasem's America's Top 40, and how that world was flipped upside down when I was introduced to more creative bands like The Cure and New Order. This time, it was Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, an acclaimed band known for its dazzling originality, beauty, and individuality showing that there is more from the U.K. than Oasis clones. The Welsh band is comprised of singer and keyboardist Euros Childs, sister Megan on violin, guitarist John Lawrence, bass player Richard James, and drummer Euros Rowlands. Wales is a part of the United Kingdom, located across the sea from Ireland and was, up until a few year ago, relatively cut off from most touring pop acts. This fact is evident in the dominant Celtic influence in Gorky's instrumentation and that some of their songs are sung in Welsh. Language is no barrier in appreciating and understanding the intense expressionistic quality of their piano-based melodies that are layered with various effects from organs, horns, violins, and medieval instruments as well as jew's harps, gas tanks, and fire extinguishers (and the list does not end there). But the extent of their ingenuity goes further: they have a sharp pop sensibility, surfacing in their Beach Boys-like harmonies, that mixes with a deep love for experimentalism. I believe the description of them as "weird music" is incorrect, but understandable due to their uniqueness. A mixture of both the old, traditional Celtic music, present pop, and the futuristicly experimental, Barafundle is truly one of the best albums to come out of the U.K. in a long time. They prove that multi-dimensional, intelligent music can be intoxicating. There is a pervasive, child-like innocence throughout the entire album, but this in no way means that their work is immature. The songs, whether light or heavy in tone, are incredibly rich. The tracks are so well put together that they do not feel convoluted, but very simple and clean, which is amazing as the majority of songs on the album are very complex. Without a doubt this is truly a summer album. It's quite a dichotomy to listen to Barafundle, sensing a cool summer afternoon, only to realize that soon I will have to trek out through the classic Charlottesville downpours. This strikes upon the power of their music to send a person to a completely different and exquisite world. The first track on the album, "Diamond Dew," reflects the splendor of Gorky's sound. At the start of the song, an organ, piano, and jew's harp give the song an earthiness that is mixed with verses like, "Awake, awake, to love and work / Luck is in the sky / Future wet, diamond dew / Birds awake to cry." There is a bardic quality to this song, and many others, as well as an adolescent indulgence. I do not mean this in the The Smiths sense, but in the strength of their expression. There is no pretension here, just a genuine love of music and the feelings it can stir. I honestly can say I don't think I have ever heard so many la's or oh's in my life, but that is just a part of their purity of sound. "Patio Song," one of the singles that received heavy air play in England, reflects the band's charm and originality. The start of the song has an ethereal, dreamy quality which is combined with the lyrics, "Isn't it a lovely day / Oh I'm feeling all brand new." The hook is incredibly catchy because of the repetitions throughout the song, but it never gets boring, especially when the lyrics chang to, "Well, isn't it a lovely day / Oh my patio's on fire." As if the fantastical nature of the song wasn't enough, its tone changes to a much more up-beat, catchy tune, that I find makes one more interested, despite the remaining lyrics being sung in Welsh. Although I have singled out only two songs on Barafundle, it needs to be emphasized that the entire album is wonderful. Beautiful. Fantastic. Whatever pretty word you choose, this album is it. Whether you think British music is shit or that Brit-pop is the shit, Gorky's will show you a larger world music than either of those two camps, even if the native language is Welsh.

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