An aubade is a poem set at dawn at the parting of two lovers. I based this song on poems on this theme by Philip Larkin, John Donne and Shakespeare. The beautiful string arrangements performed by the Mavron Quartet were written by the incredibly talented Seb Goldfinch.

Aubade

'Colled' means 'Loss' in Welsh and the words describe the coming of a black swan, symbolic of death. This song was written to imitate the style of an old Welsh poetic meter that is found in many traditional songs called 'Hen Benillion' (Old Verses). Thanks to Twm Morys for giving me a book full of them. Each verse has 4 lines of 7 syllables each and there is a specific rhyming pattern both within and between lines. The harmony is sung by the beautiful Cate le Bon and the harp played expertly by the astouding Harriet Earis. The string arrangements were written by Seb Goldfinch and performed by the Mavron Quartet. 

Colled

'Llosgi Pontydd' means 'burning bridges'. Backing vocals from the luminous Cate le Bon and strings written by Seb Goldfinch, performed by the gorgeous Mavron Quartet.

Llosgi Pontydd

Holly Blue is a butterfly native to the UK. String arrangements by Seb Goldfinch performed by the Mavron Quartet

Holly Blue

This song is about the steel industry where I live in Cardiff. The steelworks is still going not far from my back door and the sound at the start of the recording is the  scrap metal being loaded into the furnaces. At the turn of the century steel was a big employer in the area and a local boy, Ernest Willows, became an early pioneer of aviation and was the first person to fly from England to France. He celebrated by flying around the Eiffel tower on New Years Eve 1910. The picture is a sketch of the steelworks in the 1920s as drawn by local artist Daniel Lazenby. Strings arrangements by Seb Goldfinch performed by teh Mavron Quartet and backing vocals from Cate le Bon

Cysgod y Dur

Featuring the harp playing of Harriet Earis and the gorgeous string arrangements of Seb Goldfinch performed by the Mavron Quartet.

Ocean is King

This track is a mix of recordings that I made at the Hornbill festival 2014 in Konoma, Nagaland whilst there as part of the British Council's 'Folk Nations' project. These are field recordings of a variety of Naga cultural groups from all over the state that were performing live at the festival. The groups were dressed in traditional attire and dancing whilst delivering these remarkable repetitive chants. Here's a breakdown of what's on the track:

It opens with some percussion from the Kuki tribe before chanting from the Ao tribe with their distinctive call and answer ending. Following the Ao tribe is the Sangtam tribe with their own call and answer. Then it's the turn of the Phom tribe, led by a lead vocal from the Naga Ralph Stanley! The Phom exit with with Musket fire before the track closes with chanting from the Konayk tribe. 

I've blogged about the whole trip here.

http://thegentlegood.tumblr.com/post/77274102507/on-the-road-in-nagaland

I'd like to thank the British Council for inviting me to take part in such a wonderful journey, Richard James and all the musicians for being such great company and to Ed Mugford for Mastering the track.

Hornbill Festival Mix 2014

Gareth Bonello and Richard James singing an anti-monarchy protest song composed by Gareth in response to the increasingly embarrassing pro-royal sentiment in the UK in the build-up to the royal wedding on April 29th 2011. Followed by a guitar duet  composed by Richard James.

The 29th of April

An 8 minute krautrock style jam from former Gorky's member Richard James. Performed live at a free open air event in Port Sudan. Thanks to the British Council for taking us out there! 

Swwp Live Port Sudan

Featuring Callum Duggan on double bass and Georgia Ruth on vocals, this is a song best described as a portrayal of loneliness. It was inspired by many of my favourite writers and is an unofficial tribute to the genius of Richard Brautigan.

The Fisherman

A song about the refugee crisis, the tragic situation in the Mediterranean sea and the shamefully inadequate response of our political leaders. Proceeds to Oasis Cardiff, which provides services for refugees and asylum seekers in the city. Taken from the album Ruins/Adfeilion, which is out now.
http://oasiscardiff.org/
http://bubblewrap.bigcartel.com/product/ruins-adfeilion

Bound For Lampedusa

A cover I did a while back of 'One of my turns' off The Wall. Thought I should share it.

One Of My Turns (Pink Floyd Cover)

A guitar instrumental that also goes under the name 'Cytgan Pen Llyn'. Written at Aberdarron in the month of may

It's an old house we live in

Thought I'd share my critique of trickle down economics; the Tory ideology that enriching the elite benefits the whole of society. It's a lie. Vote for a progressive party tomorrow please.x

Photo: Another Angry Voice 
http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.co.uk/

Rivers Of Gold

Y Pysgotwr

Y wawr ar fin torri
Mwg y tan yn poeni
llygaid blin yn y bore llwm
Y ‘stafell wag, y dechre trwm

A’r glaw’n cwympo’n galed
arna’i tra dwi’n cerdded
Lawr y lon tua gwely’r glyn
y weddi fer am linell dynn

Fe ddaw’r dydd, fe ddaw’r dydd
Pan fydd pawb ‘di hir anghofio
Llif yr afon, codiad haul
Glaswellt tal dros esgyrn gwynion
 
Mewn ofer dwi’n gwylio’r 
afon oer yn chwyrlio 
Fflach o aur yn y dyfroedd du
y curiad coll, a dyma hi

yn rhydd ac yn torri’n
Glir o’r dŵr a’r oerni
eiliad dwyll yn y bore man
llonyddwch rhew a’r haul ar dY Pysgotwr

Y wawr ar fin torri
Mwg y tan yn poeni
llygaid blin yn y bore llwm
Y ‘stafell wag, y dechre trwm

A’r glaw’n cwympo’n galed
arna’i tra dwi’n cerdded
Lawr y lon tua gwely’r glyn
y weddi fer am linell dynn

Fe ddaw’r dydd, fe ddaw’r dydd
Pan fydd pawb ‘di hir anghofio
Llif yr afon, codiad haul
Glaswellt tal dros esgyrn gwynion
 
Mewn ofer dwi’n gwylio’r 
afon oer yn chwyrlio 
Fflach o aur yn y dyfroedd du
y curiad coll, a dyma hi

yn rhydd ac yn torri’n
Glir o’r dŵr a’r oerni
eiliad dwyll yn y bore man
llonyddwch rhew a’r haul ar dY Pysgotwr

Y wawr ar fin torri
Mwg y tan yn poeni
llygaid blin yn y bore llwm
Y ‘stafell wag, y dechre trwm

A’r glaw’n cwympo’n galed
arna’i tra dwi’n cerdded
Lawr y lon tua gwely’r glyn
y weddi fer am linell dynn

Fe ddaw’r dydd, fe ddaw’r dydd
Pan fydd pawb ‘di hir anghofio
Llif yr afon, codiad haul
Glaswellt tal dros esgyrn gwynion
 
Mewn ofer dwi’n gwylio’r 
afon oer yn chwyrlio 
Fflach o aur yn y dyfroedd du
y curiad coll, a dyma hi

yn rhydd ac yn torri’n
Glir o’r dŵr a’r oerni
eiliad dwyll yn y bore man
llonyddwch rhew a’r haul ar dân

© 2018 Bubblewrap Records

Geiriau a Cherddriaeth/Words & Music, Gareth Bonello

Prif Lais a Gitâr / Main Vocal & Guitar - Gareth Bonello
Ail lais / Harmony - Georgia Ruth
Bâs Dwbl / Double Bass - Callum Duggan
Gitâr Glin / Lap Steel - Dylan Fowler

www.thegentlegood.com

Y Gwyfyn EP

Y Pysgotwr

Title track from my debut EP back in 2007, I play Cello, guitar and metalophone and Seb Goldfinch did the violins. Produced by Llion Robertson

Dawel Disgyn

Inspired by nearly forgotten Welsh melodies and the brilliant music of the 60s folk revival, The Gentle Good is the work of Cardiff based folk singin’ finger-picker Gareth Bonello. Singing in both English and Welsh Gareth weaves dark folk tales around an intricate guitar style and a haunting voice to create beautiful modern folk music tinted with psychadelia.

A captivating live performer Gareth can enchant an audience with just a guitar, and has played to audiences at home and abroad at festivals such as Glastonbury, Latitude, The Green Man, End of the Road, The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Lorient Interceltique and South by Southwest.

The Second album 'Tethered for the Storm' has already begun to stir up interest ahead of its release this March. Previous release 'While you slept I went out Walking' saw comparisons with the music of Nick Drake, Martin Carthy, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, John Martyn and Donovan by the likes of Mojo and the Guardian.

Praise for Tethered for the Storm:

“Folk Beauty”  - Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1)

“Breathtaking, ****” Mojo

“Folk genius” The 405











The Gentle Good

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