Papur Wal

Papur Wal emerged as a Welsh trio whose approach to sound juxtaposes tuneful elements against distortion with the precision of championship gymnasts. Drawing from late-'60s pop traditions and the rougher textures associated with 1990s grunge, the group shaped a recognizable style enlivened by their distinctive vitality on the 2021 debut full-length Amser Mynd Adra.

The Cardiff-based outfit came together in 2017 when Ianto on guitar and vocals, Gwion on bass and vocals, and Guto on drums and vocals—each hailing from smaller Welsh towns—united as outsiders sharing an affinity for 1960s and 1970s pop acts including Big Star and CSN&Y. They combine brisk rhythms with layered vocal harmonies, channeling their sources through 1990s slacker pop while adding traces of punk drive. After beginning live performances, the band issued the EP Lle Yn y Byd Mae Hyn? in 2019 via the Welsh imprint Libertino. Later that same year came the single "O'n Ni'n Ffrindia"/"When He's Gone."

Work then commenced with producer Kris Jenkins (Super Furry Animals, Cate Le Bon) on material intended for a first album. The initial tracks from those sessions, "Meddwl am Hi" and "Piper Malibu," appeared in early 2020. More than twelve months elapsed before the completed record, Amser Mynd Adra, arrived on Libertino in late 2021. The album functions as a coming-of-age narrative centered on the moment when the end of youth prompts major personal inquiries. In the wake of its release, Papur Wal eased back into live work with a limited number of concerts that October.