What do I know about Gwenifer Raymond?

The truth is, not a lot.  All I know is a few fragments online.  Gwenifer Raymond is Welsh and came to music when she was about 8 when her mum gave her a cassette of “Nevermind” (She used to listen to audio books).  She says that Nirvana blew her mind.  Of course it did.  As she said  .” I don’t know what it was about that wall of sound that so captured me, but I spent many hours hyperactively running around the house with headphones on, volume at full blast, and Nevermind on repeat.”

As a teenager Gwenifer began playing in various punk bands around the valleys and was listening to Dylan and Velvet Underground.   Later on she began to realise that modern music is based on older, more fundamental music.  Pre-war delta blues and Appalachian music.  People like John Hurt, Skip James, and Roscoe Holcomb. She found someone who could teach her blues guitar who also introduced to American Primitive music.  

Why Did I Buy Gwenifer’s CD?

I heard one track on 6 Music one Sunday while cooking dinner.  That was a few weeks ago.  At the time I made a note of her name as I did a few other artists and bands. Most of the others I did not follow up (with the exception of “My Favourite Diamond”) but I kept going back to Gwenifer.  So, from one play of one tune on a radio show I bought the VCD.

Am I pleased that I bought Gwenifer’s CD and what do I think of it?

Oh yes, very pleased.  Normally, I am not very keen American Primitive and know little about it but even I recognised the nod towards Fahey on Requiem.  Gwenifer’s talent as a musician is undoubted and I will be looking out for her on tour.  I will also be interested to see how she builds on this very strong debut.

Listen to snatches of the album and buy it here