“BELONGING” ALBUM REVIEWS

“...Specialists in (but in no way limited by) traditional Welsh dance music; the latest release from Gwent based quintet Allan Yn Y Fan (Out In The Van) sees them stamping their own identity on a collection of tunes from Wales and beyond. Widely travelled, they constantly reference and add elements of the music they encounter to create a varied and enjoyable mix of traditional tunes and band compositions that, although it remains firmly rooted in the Welsh tradition, is also healthily outward looking. The band displays a healthy disregard for the vagaries of fashion - they admit that their ‘Celtic Moods’ version of the jig ‘The Road To Lisdoonvarna’ is as cheesy as it gets - and of their critics; their previous album drew accusations of 'creeping Hibernianism' and they’ve responded (to their immense credit) with a set of three Irish polkas that they’ve titled ‘Galloping Hibernianism’. It’s this open mindedness, together with a genuine sense that they are really having a ball, which makes this such an enjoyable listen and whether they’re pulling out all the stops as on the ‘Morgan Rhatlar/Lacken House’ set or coming over all introspective with Kate Strudwick’s haunting ‘Girl On A Rock’, they display a refreshing honesty and a real passion for their music....”
• Rock 'n Reel, June 2007, Dave Haslam

“...We paid our first visit to Ireland in 1996, remembers Welsh band Allan Yn Y Fan, which resulted in us believing that our Welsh music could stand up and be counted alongside the better known Irish tradition. Accordingly, five-piece band Allan Yn Y Fan formed in the Gwent town of Newbridge with the intention of bringing traditional and folk music to modern audiences. Their second album "Belonging" features traditional Welsh tunes, their own, some Shetland tunes, and an Irish polka set called "Galloping Hibernianism". Indeed, Allan Yn Y Fan might easily be accused of the creeping hibernianism prevalent in Gwent. The sound reminds me a lot of Irish bands. But who cares when the music is brilliant. One of the original tunes is a klezmerized waltz written for a German hostelry when Allan Yn Y Fan was touring the country. The Welsh town of Caerphilly is twinned with Ludwigsburg, and they met German folk band Die Geyers who wrote the tune "Allan Yn Y Fan" for them. Geoff returned the compliment with the tune "Gorymdaith y Geyers". It might turn out that Allan Yn Y Fan soon also may be accused of creeping teutonism. However, I said it before, if it's brilliant....”
• Folk World, May 2007, Tom Keller

“...This likeable cosmopolitan album contains instrumental folk dance music of a Welsh internationalist flavour. Aptly named Allan Yn Y Fan (Out in the Van), they’ve toured all over Wales, Ireland, Brittany, Germany, and absorbed the music of these places into their own distinctive style and repertoire. The band don’t like being told what they can or can’t play. After their local South Wales media accused them of "creeping Hibernianism", the band promptly created the most Irish set they could, and called it Galloping Hibernianism! The band plays Shetland tunes Spootoskerry/Willafjord with wit and a sense of fun. They attack the well-known Welsh tune Hen Ferchetan with restless gusto, and they give a wild Russian makeover to what was previously an innocuous Welsh dance tune, Coleg Brifysgol Abertawe. I especially recommend the rollicking dance set Morgan Rhatlar/Lacken House: the first tune is Welsh, the second an Irish-sounding composition by Chris. This red bull of a dance set deserves to be adopted by folk dance bands everywhere. The band’s own compositions are a major feature of the album. Kate’s Girl On A Rock is an elegant, plaintive, stately tune for fiddle and recorder, while the use of clarinet and mandolin in her composition Amazing Grapes gives this waltz an attractive Kletzmer texture. Gorymdaith Y Geyers was composed by Geoff for the German medieval-rock band The Geyers and the electric keyboards give the tune a Mike Oldfield quality that is no doubt still popular in Germany. Not every single track is to my taste, however, the electric keyboard comes over all 1980s New Romantic on Road To Lisdoonvarna. But if you want a great wedding band, book these guys. They do fun, they do frenetic, they do slow romantic. They probably do Bar Mitzvahs too...”
• FROOTS MAGAZINE, November 2006, Paul Matheson

“...Another of Steam Pie Records' releases is the latest album by Caerffili based folk group Allan Yn Y Fan. Entitled Belonging it's a collection of lively folk tunes from Wales and beyond, as well as original compositions by various band members. I especially liked the collaboration with the Geyers of Ludwigsburg, a town twinned with Caerffili, and the band's tribute to the most important meal of the day on "Brenhines Y Brecwast/Tywysog y Brecwast" (Queen and Prince of the Breakfast!)...”
• PLANET MAGAZINE, October 2006, Iwan Llwyd

“...Episode 2 in the history of one of Wales' foremost twmpath bands, Belonging consolidates Allan Yn Y Fan's rhythmic, no-nonsense approach to Welsh dance music, from the jollyjig/hornpipe/polka set Trip I'r Gogledd that opens, through to the catchy reworking of the old song Hen Ferchetan. Much of the material is drawn from Robin Huw Bowen's pocket-book collections and Cadw Twmpath, but there is new, maturely-composed home-spun material here too. Particularly impressive are three waltz interludes written by various band members, notably Geoff Cripps' haunting, keyboard-led Mlle. Eliane Price. Whilst fiddle and piano accordion regularly fill gaps in the shedfuls of driving mandolin/mandola backing, it's often whistle and flute that come out atop the mix. There are also electrical strands woven through this tapestry and the fine blend of acoustic woodwind with keyboard electronics on Emma Trend's Postman is particularly effective. Credit is due throughout to Dylan Fowler for skilful engineering and co-production. I'm honoured that the term "creeping hibernianism", I jokingly applied to the band's debut CD has fostered the title Galloping Hibernianism for a trilogy of Kerry polkas that fairly rattles along, led by unison whistles and flute. And Chris Jones has spent long enough over the water to be able to compose Lacken House, a cracking slide. The last trick in AYYF's Hibernian canon is the regulation of the reel Road to Lisdoonvarna to the pace of a slow air - a tasteful closer...”
• TAPLAS MAGAZINE, October 2006, Mike Greenwood

“...Having recently received the promo of Belonging for 100.7 Highlands FM, I can say it is great to have a “Celtic” band of Welsh origin. The album, Belonging, can stand alongside many of its peers’ releases and has elements of World music infused into it too.The band plays tightly and the use of traditional instruments adds to the overall sound.An album to be heard!...”
• Tony Bates, 100.7 Highland FM (Maldon, Victoria, Australia), July 2006

“...Spirited, cheery and creative Celtic trad, with a couple of romantic interludes, on the second album from the top Welsh twmpath band....”
• Radio 2, Folk and Acoustic, July 2006

“...Hearty congratulations too on the CD, with such nice variety, wonderful arrangements, and good 'bounce'! I was very impressed (being the old trad. fogey that I am!) with the very subtle, suitable, and sensitive use of the synth. Well done! (Really nice design too.)....”
• Robin Huw Bowen, July 2006

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