Three tracks from Bill Ryder-Jones latest album surfaced towards the close of 2023. They hinted at the richness and emotional depth in store for listeners of Iechyd Da, which saw its release on Friday 12th January. The result is a solid, beautiful collection of songs, and the timing could not have been better as we look for some uplifting music to bring light to a gloomy January.
Iechyd Da opens in languid fashion with the first track: I Know That It’s Like This (Baby) – a tender ballad with a retro feel, its 60’s style lyrics proclaiming, “One kiss and I’m in heaven”. A sudden shift in tempo moves us away from the swoony ballad as Ryder-Jones analyses what sent this relationship off course: “I will never be enough for you, I know”. The track blends his warm, gravelly vocals with a captivating chorus and a rich combination of piano and strings.
Moving on to A Bad Wind Blows in my Heart pt 3, the track moves through different stages as the tale of heartache unfolds: “ ‘“Oh how I loved you”, Ryder-Jones wistfully recalls. The final section sees the intensity build, allowing the strings to reach a crescendo before fading away. It’s a powerful and dramatic moment.
Of the tracks which were unveiled last year, I was captivated by the emotive track If Tomorrow Starts Without Me, as previously reviewed. Who could not be plunged into maudlin self-pity at imagining your loved ones having to carry on without your joyous presence? The warmth of the piano adds resonance and depth to this emotionally charged piece. Another sensitive number is I Hold Something in my Hand – a gentle, melodic and tender composition.
At around the halfway mark, the album reaches a high point with the masterpiece, a previous single, This Can’t Go On. It’s an anthemic production on a grand scale with its impassioned vocals, as Ryder-Jones confronts the traumas of his life, beautifully illustrated in the accompanying video.
There’s a Massive Attack feel to another giddily euphoric track, Nothing To Be Done, delivering a no-holds-barred assault of strings, drone and chorus. It’s an immersive track with a sweeping sense of grandeur.
Iechyd Da, in its entirety, explores a wide spectrum of emotions, blending joy and melancholia. Yet, an overarching sense of positivity pervades, casting a sunny filter cast over the entire work. Ryder-Jones’ careworn and understated vocals delicately weave their narrative, enhancing the emotional tapestry of the music.
The album title Iechyd Da means good health in Welsh. Says The Coral co-founder Ryder-Jones: “Over the years my music has lost a bit of its hope I reckon. It were important for me to make a record that had more hope in it. Even by my standards the last few years have been rocky, but I’ve chosen to soundtrack it with more positive music, you know?”
Iechyd Da is available to pre-order on DomMart. Exclusive coloured vinyl (with postcard), Indies-exclusive coloured vinyl, standard vinyl, CD and digitally.
Pre-order: Dom Mart | Digital
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