Chroma – Weithianu/Caru Cyffurio
Label: Libertino
Release Date: June 24, 2021
This review comes a little late but from Wales, the band Chroma recently released a double-sided single “Weithiau” and “Caru. Cyffuriau”. It is their first release under the Libertino Record label. Both tracks were produced by Kris Jenkins and recorded live so as to capture the raw and energetic sound of the trio from the Valleys by producer Kris Jenkins. The band has played festivals such as Reading & Leeds Festival and BBC Radio 1’s Biggest Weekend among others. They’ve also played sold-out shows all over the UK with the likes of IDLES, Peace, VANT and Tigercub.
Chroma‘s new single “Weithiau” (Sometimes) is a powerful track full of gut-wrenching emotion, whether or not you understand the lyrics. A grungy distorted electric guitar thunders in your ears as Katie’s vocals float in over the progression. She sings in her native Welsh language which is something I like about this band they stick to their roots many of the big Welsh artists seem wary to sing in their native tongue perhaps in fear of alienating their audience. However, Chroma stick to their guns and the fact that I don’t understand the language does little to diminish its impact. You can really feel the emotions coming through in the vocal inflections and I did feel the track intimated a loss of some kind just from the delivery of the vocals and the overall tone.
“‘Weithiau’ is about ending a relationship with someone that you love deeply. The process of coming to terms with the fact that the relationship doesn’t work, and putting your self first in that situation.”
Katie Hall – Chroma
The other half of the double-A-side release is titled ‘Caru Cyffuriau’ which greatly contrasts from the sense of loss in the previous track. This is a real in-your-face punk song about being a teenager in the South Wales Valleys. It careens around like someone in the throws of a drug binge. It is a very honest track and the band clearly arent hiding anything by sharing stories of their reckless youth.
“Caru Cyfffuriau is a song about being a naughty teenager in the valleys experimenting with drugs and sex because there’s not much else to do. I think there needs to be more stuff going on so young people don’t feel so isolated. We wanted to write a welsh language punk song that reflects young people’s lived experience today.”
Katie Hall – Chroma
With the repeated phrase “Caru Cyfffuriau” we get an obsessive mantra that seems to be trying to drown out the compulsive knee tremors and hand fidgeting caused by drug indulgement. I wasn’t massively into the lyrical repetition but I get the intention and think it works with the themes of the song. The Drums thrash and crash while the guitar riffs electrify with the bass line really taking centre stage delivering a powerful energy really surging the song forward.
“Weithiau” is probably my favourite a, heartfelt, powerful song, splashy drums, grungy guitars and melodic bass is an air of melancholy with vocals that greatly encapsulates the ache of lost love. The latter is a more punky offering that looks at the life of being a reckless teenager in South Wales and keeps things short and sweet. This release gets 4 stars for me, check out the tracks on streaming platforms. Chroma have also just released another single “Meindia’r Gap” from their forthcoming EP ‘Llygredd Gweledol’.
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