In 2023 Filkin's Drift walked all 870-miles of the Wales Coast Path, performing concerts almost every night along the way. Born from this epic journey, described by BBC 6 Music’s Cerys Matthews as “committed and fascinating,” is their debut album Glan.
The album combines tunes that were collected on the walk, new compositions inspired by the impressive landscapes, and music from their home traditions (Wales and Gloucestershire). The title loosely translates from Cymraeg as shore or being close to a body of water.
From the polyrhythmic interplay of “Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn” to the striking prepared guitar sounds of “Craig y Ddinas / The Miller’s Pond,” Glan pushes the boundaries of what these two instruments can achieve. The album was recorded live in Stiwdio Felin Fach, Abergavenny with one of the duo’s coast path collaborators, Dylan Fowler. You can find more information about each track below.
Yr eos a’r glân hedydd,
Ac adar mân y mynydd,
A ewch chi’n gennad at liw’r haf,
Sy’n glaf o glefyd newydd.
’Does gen i ddim anrhegion,
Na jewels drud i’w danfon,
I ddwyn i’ch cof yr hwn a’ch câr,
Ond pâr o fenyg gwynion.
Yr adar mân fe aethant,
I’w siwrnai bell hedasant,
Ac yno ar gyfer gwely Gwen,
Hwy ar y pren ganasant.
Dywedai Gwen, lliw’r ewyn,
‘Och fi, pa beth yw’r deryn
Sydd yma’n tiwnio’n awr mor braf,
A minau’n glaf ar derfyn?’
‘Cenhadon ŷm, gwenwch goelio,
Oddi wrth y mwyn a’ch caro,
Gael iddo wybod ffordd yr ydych,
Ai mendio’n wych ai peidio’.
‘O dywedwch wrtho’n dawel
Mai byr fydd hyd fy hoedl,
Cyn diwedd hyn o haf, yn brudd,
Â’n gymysg bridd a grafel’.
The nightingale and the lark,
And the little birds of the mountain,
Will you go as messengers to the hue of summer,
Who suffers from a new disease.
I have no gifts to offer,
Nor costly jewels to send,
To help you remember the one who loves you,
Only a pair of white gloves.
The little birds they went,
They flew to their distant journey,
And there on the side of Gwen’s bed,
They sang on the branch.
Gwen, the wavecrest’s hue, said,
‘Oh, what bird is this
That sings so beautifully now, so cheerfully,
While I lie ill and near the end?’
‘We are ambassadors, believe us,
From the one who loves you,
Who wants to know how you are,
Whether you are mending or not.’
‘Oh, tell him very softly
That the length of my life is to be short,
Before the end of this summer, sadly,
It will be mixed with earth and gravel.’
Dwedwch fawrion o wybodaeth
O ba beth y wnaethpwyd hiraeth,
A pha ddefnydd a roed ynddo
Na ddarfyddo wrth ei wisgo?
Derfydd aur a derfydd arian,
Derfydd melfed, derfydd sidan,
Derfydd pob dilledyn helaeth -
Eto er hyn, ni dderfydd hiraeth.
Hiraeth mawr a hiraeth creulon,
Hiraeth sydd yn torri 'nghalon;
Pan fwyf dryma'r nos yn cysgu,
Fe ddaw hiraeth ac a'm deffry.
Derfydd aur a derfydd arian,
Derfydd melfed, derfydd sidan,
Derfydd pob dilledyn helaeth -
Eto er hyn, ni dderfydd hiraeth.
Hiraeth hiraeth cilia cilia
Paid â phwyso mor drwm arna'
Nesa' tipyn at yr erchwyn
Gad i mi gael cysgu gronyn
Derfydd aur a derfydd arian,
Derfydd melfed, derfydd sidan,
Derfydd pob dilledyn helaeth -
Eto er hyn, ni dderfydd hiraeth.
Tell, great people of knowledge,
Of what was hiraeth made,
And what material was put into it
That it should not fade as it is worn?
Gold wears out and silver wears out,
Velvet wears out, silk wears out,
Every ample garment wears out -
Still, despite this, longing does not wear out.
Great longing and cruel longing,
Longing which is breaking my heart;
When I most heavily by night do sleep,
Then comes longing and awakens me.
Gold wears out and silver wears out,
Velvet wears out, silk wears out,
Every ample garment wears out -
Still, despite this, longing does not wear out.
Hiraeth, Hiraeth, retreat, retreat
Do not press so heavily upon me
Come a little closer to the edge
Let me sleep a little while.
Gold wears out and silver wears out,
Velvet wears out, silk wears out,
Every ample garment wears out -
Still, despite this, longing does not wear out.
Mi sydd fachgen ieuanc ffôl,
Yn byw yn ôl fy ffansi,
Myfi’n bugeilio'r gwenith gwyn,
Ac arall yn ei fedi.
Pam na ddeu'i ar fy ôl,
Rhyw ddydd ar ôl ei gilydd,
Gwaith rwy'n dy weld y feinir fach,
Yn lanach, lanach beunydd.
Glanach, glanach wyt bob dydd,
Neu fi sy' â’m ffydd yn ffolach;
Er mwyn y gŵr a wnaeth dy wedd
Gwna im drugaredd bellach.
Cwyd dy ben, gwêl acw draw,
Rho im’th law, Gwen dirion,
Gwaith yn dy fywnes bert ei thro,
Mae allwedd clo fy nghalon.
Codais heddiw gyda’r wawr,
Gan frysio’n fawr fy lludded,
Fel cawn gusanu ôl dy droed
Ar hyd y coed wrth gerdded.
Cwyd fy mhen o’r galar maith
A serchus iaith gwarineb;
Gwaith mwy na’r byd ir mab a’th gâr
Yw golwg ar dy wyneb.
Tra bo dŵr y môr yn hallt,
A thra bo ’ngwallt yn tyfu,
A thra bo hiraeth dan fy mron,
Mi fydda’ i’n ffyddlon iti:
Dywed imi’r gwir dan gél
A rho dan sêl d’atebion,
P’un ai myfi neu arall, Gwen,
Sy’d orau gen dy galon.
I'm a young and carefree boy
Who lives and follows his fancy.
I guard the yellow wheat.
Another reaps the harvest.
Why not come and follow me
One day, and then another?
For I see thee, my little maid.
Ever fairer and fairer!
Fair and fairer art thou each day.
Or I, myself more foolish?
For His sake who fashioned thee
Have now on me some mercy.
Lift your head, Look on me.
Give your gentle white hand.
For in your bosom, winning one,
Is the key to my heart also!
I arose today at dawn,
And hurried despite fatigue,
So I could kiss your footprints
Through the woods as you walked.
Raise my head from long sorrow
With the affectionate language of gentility.
Because it’s more than the world for the boy who loves you,
To glimpse your face.
While the sea with salt doth run,
And while my hair is growing.
And while a heart beats in my breast.
To thee I will be faithful.
Tell me the truth with no concealing,
And place under seal thine answer.
If ’tis I, or another, Gwen
Whom thy heart is claiming?
The water is wide, I cannot get over
And neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I.
There is a ship and she sails the sea
She’s laden deep, as deep can be
But not as deep as the love I'm in
I know not if I sink or swim.
When cockle shells turn silver bells
Then will my love come back to me
When roses bloom in winter's gloom
Then will my love come back to me