Huw Marc Bennett - Days Like Now (Albert's Favourites)

What Your Ears Say & The Cover Looks Like

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What We Say

Wind down your week with the unhurried, guitar led, eminently summer suitable new Huw Marc Bennett LP for Albert's Favourites. Remarkably he somehow connects the introspective folk sounds of his Welsh roots, with mushroom enlightened cosmic, jazz tickled musings from the valley communes that have fled the rat race & the rich, diverse musical strains of London's global melting pot to fine Balearic folk effect.

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What The Release Notes Say

Welsh producer and bassist Huw Marc Bennett is set to release his beautiful new album 'Days Like Now'. Steeped in organic sounds of jazz, folk, soul, dub and the earthy, psychedelic roots of his homeland; the music has history but also harmonises with the new world around it, understanding the changing landscape.

"I feel as if this is both a step back and forward with my identity, piecing together what I like about Welsh and Celtic music and feelings", says Bennett.

"Trying to move forward with a modern approach and bravery in that I may not understand everything but this is mine to use and be proud of".

His last album, 2020's 'Tresilian Bay', was widely supported on BBC radio by 6 Music's Cerys Matthews, Gideon Coe, Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, Lauren Laverne, Stuart Maconie, Tom Ravenscroft and BBC Wales' Adam Walton and Huw Stephens.

The Vinyl Factory said it “Melds south London electronica and Welsh psychedelia, along with elements of Afrobeat and highlife” while Electronic Sound said Bennett is "Another name to add to the growing list of UK new jazz talents".

'Days Like Now' started as a continuation of the worldly-funk sound of 'Tresilian Bay' before morphing inwards to become a more personal reflection of Bennett's connection with living in, leaving, and revisiting Wales from his now home in south London. Playing bass, guitar and synths, the tracks were written, performed and recorded by Bennett and as the writing progressed, he became more influenced by thoughts of home and melodies from Wales' extensive cannon of beautiful songs. "Now I am older, home means more to me than ever", says Bennett.

"I look back at what I took from there. Being brought up in a quiet Welsh coastal setting gives you a sense of community but also a longing for the bigger world. I like to think this record is exploring a lot of those outside influences I've been exposed to, but following my journey back to where I started, and even deeper in to the destination where perceive my identity".

On ‘Y Gwydd’, Bennett takes direct inspiration from the music of Wales, offering his version of the popular folk tune ‘Y Gwydd’ (The Loom), first collected by Maria Jane Williams. The original words of the tune, compares the threads of life, to the threads of the loom.

'Red Valley' refers to the Welsh who left their homes between 1936 and 1939 to fight in the Spanish civil war against Franco and the rise of facism. Bennett says, "It's just my little nod to the humble people who saw themselves as global citizens and the responsibility that comes with that, and that their individual actions truly mattered".

Featuring the voices of Angela Christofilou, Cleo Savva and Bennett himself, the beautifully serene 'Pinc Sunset' captures that moment when its hard not to stop and recognise the beauty of nature.

"Whether on a busy main street or streaming in through the window in your small room, it makes you stop and have a moment of clarity and peace. To look at yourself, who you are, where you are going, and where you have come from. And whatever that is, you own it". 'Days Like Now' is set for release on 21st July 2023.

Albert’s Favourites was formed by Adam Scrimshire, Dave Koor, and Jonny Drop and has released records by The Expansions, Hector Plimmer, Pie Eye Collective, Qwalia, Rōnin Arkestra, and Scrimshire

CREDITS
Angela Christofilou - Vocals (Tracks 2 & 3)
Cleo Savva - Vocals (Tracks 2, 3 & 7)
Matt Davies - Drums (Tracks 2 & 7)
Yusuf Ahmed - Drums (Tracks 4 & 6)

All other instruments by Huw Marc Bennett
Production by Huw Marc Bennett

Mixing & Mastering by Adam Scrimshire

Cover sketch by Huw Marc Bennett
Artwork by Jonny Drop

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