RHYS, GRUFF

Gruff Rhys - (Don't) Welcome the Plague as a Blessing (RSD 2020)
limited black & white split coloured vinyl LP + insert

Side 1 - Track 1. Frontier Man
Side 1 - Track 2. The Club
Side 1 - Track 3. Oh Dear!
Side 1 - Track 4. Limited Edition Heart
Side 1 - Track 5. Take That Call
Side 1 - Track 6. Drones In The City
Side 2 - Track 1. Negative Vibes
Side 2 - Track 2. Same Old Song
Side 2 - Track 3. Architecture Of Amnesia
Side 2 - Track 4. Selfies In The Sunset

Welsh multi-instrumental troubadour Gruff Rhys has never shied away from tackling expansive subjects, whether that's the American Interior or the plight of 21st Century Britain, as seems to be the case here. The germination for this collection of original recordings, demos and songs happened back in 2016, a year when Brexit was beginning to loom large, Bowie died, and this album become the last thing recorded at Ali Chant's studio - another creative space bulldozed to make way for redevelopment.