Gruff Rhys – Taro #1 + #2
Gruff Rhys releases ‘Taro #1 + #2’, a track about endings that sounds remarkably alive. The former Super Furry Animals frontman wrote it in Welsh, building around Kliph Scurlock’s relentless groove and Gavin Fitzjohn’s phased horns. Rhys calls it “almost lightless” but the rhythm drives forward with surprising vitality.
Recorded with producer Ali Chant (Yard Act, PJ Harvey) in Bristol, the song comes from his album Dim Probs—his first fully Welsh language release since 2019’s Pang!. Rhys wrote everything on a cheap Swedish acoustic guitar, then dressed up the basic recordings with electronic textures inspired by ’80s Welsh cassettes he’d been compiling.
Friends from his touring band pop up throughout, while Cate Le Bon and H Hawkline add backing vocals. Rhys worked fast to capture first-take energy, driving over the border to Bristol to record songs he’d worked out in advance. Pete Fowler’s cover shows an old dog on a magic carpet flying through late capitalist debris—fitting for an album about accepting life’s cycles.
Tracklist:
1. Pan Ddaw’r Haul I Fore
2. Cân I’r Cymylau
3. Saf Ar Dy Sedd
4. Taro #1 + #2
5. Dos Amdani
6. Chwyn Chwyldroadol!
7. Cyflafan
8. Dim Probs
9. Adar Gwyn
10. Gadael Fi Fynd
11. Slaw
12. Acw
Europe:
- August 16th – Glasgow, Big City Festival
- August 29th – Brighton, Psych Fest
- September 5th – Boston, Gilderdrome w/ Richard Hawley
- September 7th – Wolverhampton, Newhampton Arts Centre
- September 10th – York, The Crescent
- September 11th – Liverpool, St Michael’s Church
- September 12th – Blackpool, Tower Ballroom w/ Richard Hawley
- September 13th – Bethesda, Ara Deg Festival
- September 16th – London, Stanley Arts
- September 17th – Bristol, Strange Brew
- September 18th – Portmeirion, Town Hall
- September 19th – Machynlleth, The Tabernacle
- September 20th – Treorchy, Park and Dare
- September 24th – Exeter, The Phoenix
- September 30th – Llangoed, Village Hall
- October 1st – Rhydymain, Village Hall
- October 3rd – Rhoshirwaun, Village Hall
- October 4th – Crymych, Market Hall
- October 18th – Neath, Arts Festival
- October 19th – Nantwich, Civic Hall
