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Free Humans

by Hen Ogledd

supported by
Grain Sparrow
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Grain Sparrow One evening I took a trip into the oily realms down inside the engine of the Machine of Song. And what do you think I found? Hen Ogledd, redeeming modern electro-pop music, one beautiful and unsettling song, one lush and skronky arrangement, one visionary double album at a time. Favorite track: Farewell.
Timtam
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Timtam Joyful and beautiful. Favorite track: Trouble.
simonmackie
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simonmackie Eccentric and wonderful! Favorite track: Trouble.
Keith Somerville
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Keith Somerville Current plan is to listen to this on a loop until 2021/the end of the world, whichever comes first. Favorite track: Crimson Star.
ksherman
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ksherman I am above to leave London after 24 years here. Since Covid my priorities have changed. This is the song of our times! It’s just fucking brilliant! Favorite track: Farewell.
Imnotevans
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Imnotevans I brought this when it was realised, and me and my other half put it on through our speakers and danced. Just a fucking great album. Buy it. Favorite track: Time Party.
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1.
Farewell 05:23
tyre crunch on a gravel path full beam on a blur of bats reeling through the aftermath of days and days gone by gliding over moonless lawn breaking through the great unknown… they say pride comes before the fall can't believe that it's all over and we're leaving for good we'll still wave across the water but we're leaving stairwell in a burning house someone put the fire out horses galloping about the smoky oaky glade farewell to the leaning tower farewell to the church bell flowers farewell to the fields of our friends can't believe that it's all over and we're leaving for good we'll still wave across the water but we're leaving, we're leaving farewell to the thermal baths farewell to the forest black farewell to the winding paths goodbye goodbye goodbye farewell to the stony gate farewell to the unmasked face farewell to the state of grace goodbye goodbye goodbye farewell to the sinking tower farewell to the church bell flowers farewell to the fields of our friends... (over and over until out)
2.
Trouble 05:50
3.
Earworm 04:38
earworm bad idea involuntary action huh earworm in my head direct voltage hot swamp things go bump big romance breaks are brill nut go chill vault my brain very cool start x 3 very cool start earworm bad idea involuntary action huh spa-sms anxi-ety beverage handy mouth gulps steel stain-free candy words are happy corrugated lover smile of lovely tiny fella worm’s in heaven x 3 arghhhh! earworm bad idea involuntary action fuck-sakes jeez-fucking fucking fuck-sakes get out of my head get out get out of my fucking head man it just fucking on my head man get out fuck fucking get fuck fuck out of it you just fucking in my going round round round round in my fucking head man huh fucking makes me sick fucking with my head so ugly and venomous fucking mumblecrust fucking infecting my brain fucks-sake you bastard unable worms fucking clot a plague sore clay brained gutsy fucking soil faced wimp your tongue out-venoms all worms of the tyne ach gwae! makes me sick fucking with my head rakefire mumblecrust snivelling worm ugly and venomous infecting my brain fuck-sakes bastard unable worms a boil a plague sore clay brained guts mucksprout fopdoodle soilfaced wimp huh your tongue out-venoms all the worms of the tyne earworm bad idea involuntary action
4.
Crimson Star 05:16
Those were the best days of my life I was a singer in a band aboard the first of the big cruise ships Touring the seven planets and their moons circling Trappist-1 I sampled all of life's rich delicacies Hello crimson star Nobody knows who we are Nobody knows where we're going Sunset never ends I wish I could see you again vanished with the aurora I grew very lost exploring a forest of towering translucent flowers and inaudible music all around I'd just about exhausted my oxygen supply when I fell into a vision We were naked...we were naked... we were happy and young again Over tarry seas through meadows of verdant ruby goes flapping the shape of a memory Sunset never ends I wish I could see you again Vanished with the aurora Open your heart and let sadness in Open your heart and let sadness out Hello crimson star Nobody knows who we are Nobody knows where we're going Sunset never ends I wish I could see you again vanished with the aurora Over tarry seas through meadows of verdant ruby goes flapping the shape of a memory Sunset never ends I wish I could see you again Vanished with the aurora
5.
Fountain of life (Fountain of life) Kebran Gospel (Kebran Gospel) 15th Century (15th Century) Gossip! Fountain of life (Fountain of life) Kebran Gospel (Kebran Gospel) 15th Century (15th Century) Gossip! 15th Century (Kebran Gospel) 15th Century (15th Century) Gossip! Father, where are you? Mother, where are you? Are you in the mood? Are you in the mood? For Gospel? Mother, where are you? Mother, where are you? Are you in the mood? Are you in the mood, For Gospel? (Gospel!) Who are, who are you? (rpt)
6.
Remains 05:48
Will you please make the Voder say for our Eastern listeners “Good evening, radio audience” Good evening, radio audience Analyse and synthesize the human voice for audio data compression multiplexing voice encryption Good Evening, Radio Audience x 3 Demonstrate and oscillate impressions, emotion and feelings a cosmic language on the horizon Good Evening, Radio Audience x 3 Utilize and realize vibrations with electro-historical devices the basis of all pain and pleasure A spoken word is never lost x 3 It remains and vibrates x 10 And now, for our Western listeners, say “Good afternoon, radio audience”. Good afternoon, radio audience
7.
Somewhere on Orion Patch my voice Someone explain to me Shape my noise However you see it Into the void (MARSH GAS) Floating Sinking Inside Out (MARSH GAS) Turning Round Love You - Inside Out (MARSH GAS) Floating Sinking Inside Out (MARSH GAS) Turning Round Love You - Inside Out Following dreams Leaking in space My sweat freezes Falling freezing My pores coagulate Disintegrating (MARSH GAS) Floating Sinking Inside Out (MARSH GAS) Turning Round Love You - Inside Out (MARSH GAS) Floating Sinking Inside Out (MARSH GAS) Turning Round Love You - Inside Out I choose you I do
8.
Space Golf 04:57
Take all your hate and all your fear with you and blast them into the blue Building your walls to keep them out Building your stash to wipe them out You staked your claim on planets new You built your ship and up you flew Looking back on the world below Safe from the damage and the woe but you cannot play golf in space Take all your hate and all your fear Take all your hate and all your fear Take all your hate and all your fear with you and blast them into the blue Platinum club for psychopaths Draining the tank with dirty maths Plundering all to guild the few You built your ships and up you flew Infinity pool on Ganymede You took so much more than you need but you cannot play golf in space Take all your hate and all your fear Take all your hate and all your fear Take all your hate and all your fear with you and blast them into the blue
9.
Time Party 05:48
Bomb the banks! Shrink the economy The economy is shrieking! Leave your wallet In your pocket Intoxicated On love steam! I need you to help me through Pan the views through the news I feel you coming to Get over here, no time to lose! Party Time Free your mind It’s time to let off steam Party Time Free your mind Time to remember your dreams Its Party Time (aaaahhhhh) Its Party Time (aaaahhhhh) Its Party Time (aaaahhhhh) Its Party Time (aaaahhhhh) Party Time Party Time Time. Party. Time. Party. Time. Party. Time. Party.
10.
Sssnnnwhuffffll? Hnwhuffl hhnnwfl hnfl hfl? Gdroblboblhobngbl gbl gl g g g g glbgl. Drublhaflablhaflubhafgabhaflhafl fl fl – gm grawwwww grf grawf awfgm graw gm. Hovoplodok – doplodovok – plovodokot-doplodokosh? Splgraw fok fok splgrafhatchgabrlgabrl fok splfok! Zgra kra gka fok! Grof grawff gahf? Gombl mbl bl – blm plm, blm plm, blm plm, Blp.
11.
I've continued our chats with the newly sprouted tufts of grass and a dandelion trembling is the echo of your lovely laugh It’s been quite a struggle coping I suppose I am still hoping that the rustling leaves I hear is you whispering in my ear After the end of the end of time I will be yours You will be mine Lost little souls in a boundless night flickering lights disappear out of sight I've been crying in my bed shaken by the things I think you've said Was it my imagination or your lips upon my neck I like talking to your armchair in the wee hours of the morning as I gaze at your reflection in the darkened TV screen After the end of the end of time I will be yours You will be mine Lost little souls in a boundless night flickering lights disappear out of sight
12.
Bwganod 04:44
Smoking Choking Life out of this rotten planet Holding onto my life Cause there’s nothing left Molten Lava Radioactive Nuclear Bullshit Stunted little Parrot White rabbit Pig Shit! Always jokey-woking ‘Til the shit hits the fan Spray my face in fertiliser Grow a mos-toosh Hairy pits Super fit Built like a brick shit Wearing leopard-print Fishnet underpants I’m on the run, Barely began Gathering sun, but I’ll take my time I’m overrun (ahhhoooooooohhhooooooooh) The damage is done (ahhhoooooooohoooooooohoooooooooh) Everyone’s gonna sink into the slime Ohhhhhoooohhhhhh-ahhhhhhoooooooohhhooooooohh Bwanganod! Ohhhhhoooohhhhhh-ahhhhhhoooooooohhhooooooohh Bwanganod! Ohhhhhoooohhhhhh-ahhhhhhoooooooohhhooooooohh Bwanganod! Ohhhhhoooohhhhhh-ahhhhhhoooooooohhhooooooohh Bwanganod! Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock Tick….tock. Terminator Trojan-gator Rat dick Melody Mucky wucky Muddy fuck Swarfega Grip Slap! Gaia made The world decayed The stew-pid Shafted nature Reclaim the female world Before it’s too late! Smoking Choking Life out of this rotten planet Holding onto my life Cause there’s nothing left Molten Lava Radioactive Nuclear Bullshit Stunted little Parrot White rabbit Pig Shit!
13.
Feral 08:54
Well done you’ve Braved it through Into the night And into the news Looking forward for the truth Don’t look back Shadows will swallow you It’s not what it seems Pre-Cambrian dream A shepherd's crown Fossils underground, underground All that’s solid melts into air (Free humans) All that’s solid melts into air, into air (Free humans) Free yourself Free yourself (Free humans)
14.
Inside inside find your animals honour your guides your power power stones stand shadows circling we dance upon the footsteps of ancestors we wait for the light to come rising towards the mirror mirror we walk, a mass into the sea pulling forever forward forward You might see a very big ball of light You might see an ever-expanding pale of sky Roots touch under the ground and reach for truths waiting to be found in time Inside inside find your animals honour your guides your power power stones stand shadows circling we dance upon the footsteps of ancestors we wait for the light to come rising towards the mirror mirror we walk, a mass into the sea pulling forever forward forward You might see a very big ball of light You might see an ever-expanding pale of sky Roots touch under the ground and reach for truths waiting to be found in time Spheres collide and bright our minds We swim we glide in ever-increasing primes in primes Tears denied come rolling on the tide We feel the magic of being alive at the same time Custodians of the sand We watch it pass through our hands and wait for the waves to claim it from us Into the white we step It takes our breath we feel an all-encompassing ray of love.

about

Consisting of Dawn Bothwell, Rhodri Davies, Richard Dawson and Sally Pilkington, Hen Ogledd present new album Free Humans - an album of seamless, glorious contradictions. Tackling themes of love, friendship, Gaia theory, sewers, the nature of time, human stench, and the thrills of wild swimming, Free Humans coheres into a marvellous whole.

credits

released September 25, 2020

Dawn Bothwell: Angel Glockenspiel, Carrot and Celery Bites, Coppers, Electro-Harmonix 720 Stereo Looper, gargling cooncil Juice, iMaschine2, MicroKorg, Violetta Delay, voice, whistling lips, Yamaha MG10XU mixing console

Rhodri Davies: voice, electric harp, Black Cat, The Depths, Orbit, The Crayon, The Cobbing, Aqueduct, Moog Minifooger Analog Delay, The Super Radical Delay, percussion, triangle, claves, pedal harp on Crimson Star

Richard Dawson: voice, Vox Phantom bass, EKO Florentine bass, Aqueduct, Alexander Radical Reverse, gongs, Randy’s Revenge, Deco, Bubbletron, Meteore, tom-toms, hi-hat, Bassman, additional guitar on 2, 6, 12 and 14

Sally Pilkington: voice, Roland JDXI synth, Roland VT3 vocoder, percussion, organ, crisp packet

With special guests...

Brychan, Elliw, Milenka and Zosia: voice
Oscar Fleming: percussion
Lee Patterson: sphagnum moss and burning peat recordings
Mette Rasmussen: saxophone
Pat Thomas: keyboard

All songs written by Hen Ogledd
Produced by Hen Ogledd and Sam Grant
Published by Domino Publishing Co. Ltd
Recorded on the 4th, 5th and 6th of September 2019 by Sam Grant at Blank Studios, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Pedal harp on Crimson Star recorded on the 19th of November 2019 by Janne Hansson at Atlantis Grammofon, Stockholm
Organ recorded at Newcastle University by Sally Pilkington, January 2020
Brychan, Elliw, Milenka and Zosia on Bwganod recorded at Abertawe 3rd of January 2020.
Mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Christian Wright

“The Loch Ness Monster's Song” by Edwin Morgan, licensed courtesy of Carcanet Press Limited
“Glas” by Bryan Martin Davies, licensed courtesy of Gomer Press Limited

Artwork by Anna Barratt
Design by Sally Pilkington
Layout by Matt Cooper and Paul J Street
Photography by Math Roberts

Thank you to Laurence, Will and everyone at Weird World / Domino, Qu Junktions, Anna Barratt, Amanda Fraser, Sam Grant, Rachael Macarthur, Rosie Morris, Lee Patterson, Mette Rasmussen, Paul Stewart, Angharad Closs Stephens, John Stevens, Pat Thomas and Christian Wright. Also thank you to Richard Elliott at the International Centre for Music Studies at Newcastle University for arranging access to the King’s Hall organ, to Magnus Williamson for his work in bringing this instrument to Newcastle and to Bernard Aubertin for building it.

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Hen Ogledd Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

Hen Ogledd is

Dawn Bothwell

Rhodri Davies

Richard Dawson

Sally Pilkington

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