There is a fluidity to Hen Ogledd that separates them from other modern bands. A “supergroup” of niche artists, the collective has morphed in membership since its founding by Richard Dawson and Rhodri Davies in 2012. This devotion to change can be heard on Hen Ogledd’s newest record, Discombobulated, recently released by Domino Recording Company.
Named for the Welsh phrase that means “Old North,” Hen Ogledd’s music both explores folk tropes and forward-looking sonic experimentation. This current iteration of the band features Dawson and Davies, along with Dawn Bothwell, Sally Pilkington and Will Guthrie. Each has a thriving solo career, and Discombobulated feels like an organic intersection of these solo pursuits.
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Recorded in Northern England and Wales, Discombobulated began in piecemeal form as each artist developed songs on their own before coalescing into the final product. There is a playful aspect to the record, which ranges from shambolic folk tunes to gentle jazz. It’s no surprise that it opens with “Nell’s Prologue,” which features a starry-eyed young narrator telling a child’s story.
Discombobulated is also a very political album, as its lyrics try to pick up the pieces in a post-truth world. The members of Hen Ogledd seem fully aware that we can no longer believe our eyes in a world of AI slop and digital manipulation. And while the songs stop short of the wistful navel-gazing of something like the Kinks’s “Village Green Preservation Society,” a longing for more uncomplicated times certainly exists here.
Richard Dawson has long been an underappreciated contributor to modern music, and his solo work informs part of what makes this Hen Ogledd record so great. He is the ground element here, and his vocals (whether lead or backing) are plain and primeval, providing a good context for Pilkington’s melodies on songs such as “Clara.”
The scope of the record can be dizzying and hard to digest on just one listen. But that is true for most great music. On “Scales Will Fall,” Bothwell almost raps a litany about corporate greed before the song folds itself into an almost medieval processional. Meanwhile, “End of the Rhythm” is frenetic jazz-fusion, which dumps the listener into the minute-long Welsh chant “Amser a ddengys. After, the 19-minute “Clear Pools” is hypnotically meditative, which feels like the record’s peak.As a fusion of talents, Hen Ogledd not only cherry picks the best of each musician but also demonstrates how they can work together to forge something new. For fans of the solo work of Dawson and company, Discombobulated is a must. But it’s also an excellent record for those looking for a challenge that richly rewards after repeat listens.
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