Childs Play

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci's music anticipated the freak-folk movement, even if former frontman Euros Childs doesn't hear it.

by Michael Pelusi

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Published: Nov 7, 2007

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When asked about his plans for the future, Euros Childs, responding over e-mail, is succinct as usual: "More albums and concerts," he says.

That alone is an impressive feat. The former frontman for the Welsh group Gorky's Zygotic Mynci has certainly kept himself occupied in the last year-and-change. In February of 2006, he released his solo debut, Chops. Shortly thereafter, Gorky's announced their breakup.

But Childs was just getting started. While touring the UK fairly steadily, he continued to work up new material. In fairly short order, 2007 sees two new Childs albums: In March, he released Bore Da, an album sung entirely in Welsh; then in August came the English-language The Miracle Inn.

All three albums were released on London-based indie Wichita Recordings. "They had no problems at all with these two albums coming out this year. Some labels don't want an album a year even," Childs says.

"I seem to be writing quite a bit at the moment," he readily admits. "There was a long time between the last Gorky's album [2003's Sleep/Holiday] and my first one, so there was a backlog of songs ... I'm enjoying writing, and I haven't become jaded yet."

With Bore Da, Childs occasionally leans back into his old band's early sound, with a selection of eccentric Welsh pop songs filled with wiry guitars, buzzing keyboards and caffeinated vocals. "Henry A Matilda Supermarketsuper" and "Cwtsh" bring -to mind Gorky's classics like "Merched Yn Neud Gwallit Et Gilyyd." On other songs, Childs relies on his gift for McCartney-esque whimsy and more pensive acoustic ballads.

Childs claims there's no formula determining whether a song will be in English or Welsh. "I speak both languages in everyday life, so when it comes to writing songs, I don't decide, 'I'm going to write a song in the Welsh language.'

"I grew up speaking both languages. I started writing in Welsh after going to gigs in Wales and listening to bands such as Ffa Coffi Pawb [led by future Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys] and Datblygu. It was also a good way to get on Welsh television and radio."

The Miracle Inn is dominated by its 15-minute title track, a suite chronicling childhood memories. But the highlights of the album are "Outside My Window" and "Hard Times Wondering," works of minimalism that still display Childs' keen sense of melody. Plus, there's an aching version of the Turtles' "Think I'll Run Away," where Childs harmonizes with fellow Gorky's alumnus Richard James.

As Gorky's Zygotic Mynci matured, they moved into gentler terrains. On acclaimed releases like Barafundle (1997) and The Blue Trees (2000), they adopted a sweetly spacey brand of folk-pop. The music of those albums seems to anticipate the recent freak-folk movement, although Childs says he doesn't hear any similarities.

"I've seen Espers and Joanna Newsom live, they sound nothing like Gorky's to my ears," he says. Childs also downplays Gorky's folk leanings. "We never did any traditional folk songs, although we did listen to folk music. I think we were always a pop band."

(m_pelusi@citypaper.net)

Euros Childs plays Tue., Nov. 13, 9 p.m., $10, with David Kilgour, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

 

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