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Datblygu (Welsh pronunciation: [datˈbləɡi] meaning develop or developing) are an experimental Welsh rock group formed in 1982. They are regarded as a catalyst of the new wave of Welsh rock in the early '80s.
The band was formed in by vocalist David R. Edwards and instrumentalist T. Wyn Davies in 1982 while they were at Ysgol Uwchradd in Aberteifi, with instrumentalist Patricia Morgan joining in 1984.Edwards' lyrics were almost entirely in the Welsh language, the subject matter reflecting his extreme disillusionment with life in Wales in the early 1980s era under Margaret Thatcher.After four cassette-only releases on Casetiau Neon, the band had their first vinyl release in 1987 on Anhrefn Records, with the Hwgr-Grawth-Og EP featuring just Edwards and Morgan, which was picked up by John Peel and led to a session being recorded for his BBC Radio 1 show (the first of five such sessions). While Welsh radio gave the band little airplay, they also found an outlet through Geraint Jarman's Fideo 9 television show on S4C. The band's first album, Wyau (Eggs), was released in 1988, and was followed two years later with Pyst (Posts) on the Ofn label. Davies left in 1990 and the group continued as a duo for a while, before being augmented by a series of musicians, notably drummer Al Edwards. Moving to Ankst Records, the Christmas-themed Blwch Tymer Tymor cassette was issued in 1991. Edwards collaborated with Tŷ Gwydr and Llwybr Llaethog on the 1992 album LL.LL v T.G. MC DRE, before releasing a final Datblygu album in 1993 with Libertino.After a single, Alcohol/Amnesia in 1995, the band split up.

In August 2008 a new 7 single Can y Mynach Modern (The Song of the Modern Monk) was released. The song recounts (over its brief ninety seconds) the turmoil and madness that engulfed Edwards as the band fell apart in the mid nineties and the long road to recovery that resulted from the fallout. The track is intended as a full stop on their legacy rather than a brand new start. Datblygu have been cited as a major influence on the generation of Welsh bands that followed, including Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Super Furry Animals (who covered Datblygu's Y Teimlad on their Mwng album).
In a rare TV appearance, David featured on S4C documentary programme O Flaen dy Lygaid in 2009, presented by Cardiff-based broadcaster and friend of David's, Ali Yassine, which followed David and his battle to recover from mental illness. The programme also featured Datblygu bandmember and former Pobol y Cwm actress Ree Davies and her own battle against mental illness. In 2012 an exhibition celebrating the band's history was held in a Cardiff coffee shop. Edwards and Morgan reunited in 2012 for the EP Darluniau'r Ogof Unfed Ganrif ar Hugain. A new mini-album, Erbyn Hyn, was released in June 2014 and a new album, Porwr Trallod (Tribulation Browser), in December 2015. In 2017 David released a series of poems for the very first time in his second language English compiled in a book called Search In English For The House Of Tolerance, released with an accompanying CD of the book audio read with music by Ashley Cooke on the small Welsh label Recordiau Prin.

Edwards passed away in June 2021.

ALBUMS


APPEARANCES +


Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals at the BBC
2018
Super Furry Animals
Mwng
2005
Various
Gadael Yr Ugeinfed Ganrif
1985, LP, Comp, Recordiau Anhrefn, Recordiau Anhrefn
Various
Casetiau Neon 1980 - 1986
2018, 2xCDr, Casetiau Neon
Various
Did You Get A Copy Of The DIY Zine For How To Better Participate In Your Local Apocalypse?
2018, CDr, Comp, Mixed, Not On Label, ,
Indie Pop/Lo-Fi/Punk/Noise/Indie Rock/New Wave/Power Pop/Avantgarde/Art Rock/Alternative Rock/Oi/Ska/Electro/Synth-pop/Pop Rock/Noisecore/Grindcore
Various
#MoreInCommon - Hope Not Hate Compilation Album
2016, File, MP3, Comp, Hope Not Hate
Various
Ankstmusik: Radio Crymi Playlist Vol 2 1998 - 2008
2007, CD, Comp, Ankstmusik, Ankstmusik, ,
Alternative Rock/Indie Rock/Pop Punk/Dub/Hip Hop/Pop Rap/Pop Rock/Leftfield/Avantgarde
Various
Radio Amgen
2005, CDr, Comp, Fitamin Un
Super Furry Animals
Under The Influence
2005, ,
Indie Rock/Opera/New Wave/Psychedelic Rock/Funk/Classic Rock
Various
A Miserable Nation Obsessed With The Past
2004, DVD, Ankstmusik, ,
Acid Rock/Avantgarde/Experimental/Folk Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Alternative Rock/Grunge/Indie Rock/Folk Rock/Country
Various
Ankst Records: Radio Crymi Playlist Vol I 1988 - 1998
2003, 2x CD, ,
Dub/Pop Rock/Experimental/Indie Rock
Llwybr Llaethog
Stwff
2001, CD, Album, Neud Nid Deud
Various
Croeso'99
1999, CD, Comp, Ankstmusik,
Various
Angylion Hardd : Adennydd Mawr - Angels With Big Wings
1997, CD, Comp, Smplr, Ankst, ,
Alternative Rock/Dub/Experimental
Various
Triskedekaphilia
1995, CD, ,
Alternative Rock/Country Rock/Indie Rock/Folk Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Experimental
Various
Peel Out In The States Programs 13&14
1993, CD, Comp, Promo, Transcription, In-Press Communications,
Various
Pop Peth Dau
1993, VHS, Comp, PAL, Ankst, ,
Dub/Techno/Post-Punk/Indie Rock/Psychedelic Rock
Various
Ap Elvis
1993, ,
Alternative Rock/Pop Rock/Indie Rock/Experimental
Various
o'rGad!... NO TRANSLATION
1991
Various
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
1990, Cass, Comp, Ankst, ,
Alternative Rock/Dub/Techno/Indie Rock
Various
Gwyrdd
1989, Cass, Comp, Fflach, ,
Alternative Rock/Punk
Various
Burning Down The Chapels / Yr Ysbryd Yn Y Bag Cysgu
1988, Cass, Comp, Central Slate Records
Various
Dyma'r Rysait
1988, 7", Ofn
Various
Cam O'r Tywyllwch
1985, LP, Comp, Recordiau Anhrefn
Various
Y Gorfennol I'r Presennol
1984, Cass, Album, Ltd, Smplr, Casetiau Neon
Various
Penroc 1
Cass, Album, Comp, Groucho Productions, ,
Celtic