Sometime in late April or early May 2000, we had a works drink in The Stag on Psalter Lane; 'works' in this case meaning people from the Ufi ICT team and Interactive Bureau London. As my house was about 150 yards from The Stag, it was no surprise that the session continued there after closing time. I remember in particular Freddie Veres tucking into my Jose Cuervo and then being rude about my speakers as I tried to take requests for music.
Medwyn asked if I had anything by any Welsh bands, and I said, "Well, I've got some Datblygu, if that's any good". He would have fallen off his chair if he'd been on a chair, rather than sitting on the floor, and not too drunk to balance on a chair even when unsurprised.
Medwyn tells a different version of the story, but that's mine, and there was no one there whose memory can be trusted.
It turns out Medwyn had been photographer for Datblygu's label ankstmusik. He was chuffed that he'd found a fan and promised to send me some 'stuff'. True to his word, a package arrived a few days later, containing all of Datblygu's works, vinyl and CD, apart from the one I already had. And for good measure, this ankstmusik label sampler, which includes a remix of Datblygu's classic Maes E — well, it's a classic in this house.
The shocking thing — and this really is an insult to Medwyn's generosity — is that I'm not sure I ever listened to this album until today. Which is my loss because there's some very imaginative stuff here, including tracks by other Peel favourites like Llwybr Llaethog. Thanks, Medwyn.
Buy this album via netsoundsmusic.com [link may rot, sorry]
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