Releasing Birds by Fiona & Gorwel Owen
“From the wintry opener, 'Can Never', with Fiona Owen's haunting voice swallowed by organ and field recordings, to the more robust 'Across', which mixes banjo licks with a drum loop and abstract electronics, this is a quiet triumph". - Tom Pinnock, Uncut.
"Evocative and uplifting songs for the turning year from Fiona & Gorwel Owen (whose production credits include Super Furry Animals and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci). Gorgeous vocals soar on sonic thermal currents of expertly-blended acoustic instruments and electronics. Discover with haste!" - fROOTS.
Towards the end of 2013, we set ourselves the challenge of recording a song for every month of 2014. An album gradually grew as we posted each song on the web, on the first of every month. We have kept the original running order, some of the songs touching into points of the turning year. Many thanks to everyone who encouraged and accompanied us along the way: friends, family and music-making communities in the ‘real’ world and on social media, and everyone who played our music on radio. Though we didn’t want to single any one person out (we love you all!), it would be remiss not to give special thanks to Radio Wales DJ Adam Walton. He enthusiastically played every song on his Saturday night programme. Diolch Adam a ffrindiau oll am gefnogi ni ac am ddanfon negeseuon ar y we drwy’r flwyddyn.
Tracklist
| 1. | Can Never | 4:46 |
| 2. | Releasing Birds | 4:58 |
| 3. | Merry Go Round | 2:14 |
| 4. | Lakespan | 6:24 |
| 5. | Hollowed-Out Tree | 3:05 |
| 6. | Dan Derry | 4:06 |
| 7. | Across | 5:25 |
| 8. | Prayer No.1 | 2:46 |
| 9. | Singing for the Cuckoo | 4:11 |
| 10. | Holding Autumn | 3:14 |
| 11. | Shadowsong | 3:42 |
| 12. | Heartwood | 3:06 |
Credits
Vocals and instruments: Fiona and Gorwel
Recorded in Llanfaelog, Ynys Môn, Cymru/Wales
(Ducks and geese: Llyn Maelog. Weather: Dartington, Devon.
Park sounds: New York City.)
Mastering: Donal Whelan, Hafod Mastering
Photographs: Gorwel
Cover Design: Ynyr Gruffudd Roberts
Songs: Fiona and Gorwel Owen, Ofn (Cyhoeddi/Publishing)
© & ℗ 2015 Recordiau Ofn/Ofn Records
Yamoosh! YAM CD003
License
All rights reserved.
As a producer, Gorwel has worked with Super Furry Animals, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Melys, and others. Fiona is an established poet, with several books published. Tom Pinnock, in Mojo, referred to their latest album as a 'quiet triumph'. In 2025, they performed at the AraDeg festival, recorded a live session of new songs for BBC Radio Cymru, and are presently working on their next album.