Angel

Description

With *Angel*, her third album to be released on the tak:til / Glitterbeat label, Welsh harpist and composer Cerys Hafana delivers her most accomplished project to date. Inspired by a folk tale — an old man who falls asleep for 350 years after hearing an angel's song — the album blends Welsh traditions with contemporary experimentation. Having risen to prominence with *Edyf* in 2022, Hafana has established herself as a bold figure in the new folk scene. Recorded in just four days at Owain Fleetwood Jenkins' studio in Wales, *Angel* stands out for its raw and intimate recording. Alongside Hafana (vocals, Welsh triple harp), the album features Ursula Harrison (double bass), Amie Huckstep (alto saxophone), and Lisa Martin (drums), in a unique lineup serving an aesthetic rich in contrasts and textures. The voice and saxophone notably engage in a dialogue reminiscent of the Breton *kan ha diskan*. True to her roots while expanding her range of influences towards minimalism, jazz, and Breton folklores, Hafana continues her exploration of the harp as a field for sonic experimentation. *Angel* establishes itself as a singular and captivating record, poised between ancient ritual and contemporary gesture, where one can feel the vibrant heart of a tradition in perpetual motion.