Editing Datblygu

{{Short description|Welsh experimental rock group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Datblygu
| image           = Datblygu (3905035904).jpg
| image_size      =
| landscape       = yes<!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt             =
| caption         =
| alias           =
| origin          = [[Aberteifi]], Wales
| genre           = [[Post-punk]], [[minimal wave]], [[experimental rock]], [[art rock]]
| years_active    = {{start date|1982}}–{{end date|df=yes|95}}, 2012–2021
| label           = [[Anhrefn Records|Anhrefn]], [[Ankst]]
| associated_acts =
| website         = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| past_members    = [[David Edwards (singer)|David Edwards]]<br />Patricia Morgan<br />T. Wyn Davies
 
}}
'''Datblygu''' ({{IPA|cy|datˈbləɡi}} meaning "develop" or "developing") were a Welsh [[experimental rock]] group formed in 1982. They are regarded as a catalyst of the new wave of [[Music of Wales|Welsh rock]] in the early 1980s.

== History ==
The band was formed by vocalist [[David R. Edwards]] and instrumentalist T. Wyn Davies in 1982 while they were at [[Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi]] in [[Cardigan, Ceredigion|Cardigan]], with instrumentalist Patricia Morgan joining in 1984.<ref name="StrongI">Strong, Martin C. (2003) "The Great Indie Discography", Canongate, {{ISBN|1-84195-335-0}}</ref><ref name="Hill">Hill, Sarah (2012) "[http://www.walesartsreview.org/datblygu-trideg/ Datblygu Trideg]", Wales Arts Review. Retrieved 18 June 2014</ref><ref name="WO">"[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/wales-poet-laureate-doubt-who-2042427 Wales' poet laureate of doubt who made perfect sense to a generation]", [[Wales Online]], 17 February 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2014</ref> 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]].<ref name="StrongI" /><ref name="HillBook" /> After four [[musicassette|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).<ref name="BBCWales">"[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/datblygu/pages/biography.shtml Datblygu biography]", [[BBC]]. Retrieved 18 June 2014</ref> While Welsh radio gave the band little airplay, they also found an outlet through [[Geraint Jarman]]'s ''Fideo 9'' television show on [[S4C]].<ref name="HillBook">Hill, Sarah (2007) '''Blerwytirhwng?' The Place of Welsh Pop Music'', Ashgate, {{ISBN|978-0754658986}}, p. 87</ref> 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''.<ref name="StrongI" /> After a single, "Alcohol"/"Amnesia" in 1995, the band split up.

In August 2008 a new 7-inch 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).<ref name="StrongI" /><ref name="WO" />

In a rare TV appearance, Edwards featured on [[S4C]] documentary programme ''O Flaen dy Lygaid'' in 2009, presented by [[Cardiff]]-based broadcaster and friend of Edwards's, Ali Yassine, which followed Edwards and his efforts 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.<ref name="Hill" /> 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.<ref>Tucker, Simon (2014) "[http://louderthanwar.com/datblygu-erbyn-hyn-official-album-launch/ Datblygu: Erbyn Hyn. Official Mini-Album Launch]", [[Louder than War]], 6 May 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014</ref><ref>"[http://www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk/New-album-release/story-21091396-detail/story.html Datblygu celebrate new album release]", ''[[Carmarthen Journal]]'', 14 May 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014</ref>

In 2020, an album ''Cwm Gwagle'', was released.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Datblygu-Cwm-Gwagle/release/15894717|title=Datblygu – Cwm Gwagle (2020, Vinyl)|access-date=23 June 2021|website=Discogs.com}}</ref> It was No. 2 in [[The Quietus]]' list of 2020's Best of Weird Britain – "Another crucial document of a brilliant band".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/29304-best-of-new-weird-britain-2020|title=New Weird Britain: The Best Of 2020|website=[[The Quietus]]|date=December 2020 |access-date=23 June 2021}}</ref>

Edwards died 22 June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://link2wales.co.uk/2021/latest-news/rip-dave-datblygu/|title = RIP Dave Datblygu – link2wales.co.uk| date=22 June 2021 }}</ref>

== Discography ==
*Casetiau Neon
**''Amheuon Corfforol'' ''('Body doubts')'' – [[compact audio cassette|cassette]] [[Extended play|EP]]; c. 1982
**''Trosglwyddo'r Gwirionedd'' ''('Transferring the truth')'' – [[compact audio cassette|cassette]] [[Extended play|EP]]; c. 1983
**''Fi Du'' ''('Black Me')'' – [[compact audio cassette|cassette]] [[Extended play|EP]]; c. 1984
**''Caneuon Serch i Bobl Serchog'' ''('Love songs for lovers')'' – [[compact audio cassette|cassette]] [[Extended play|EP]]; c. 1985
*[[Anhrefn Records]]
**''Hwgr Grawth-Og'' <!-- I don't know what this means; help please, Welsh-speakers --> – [[gramophone record|7-inch EP]]; 1986
**''Wyau''  ''('Eggs')'' – [[Vinyl record|LP]]; 1988
*Ofn Records
**''Pyst''  ''('Posts')'' – [[Vinyl record|LP]]; 1990
*[[Ankst]] Records
**''Blwch Tymer Tymor'' ''('Season mood box')'' – [[compact audio cassette|cassette LP]]; 1991
**''Peel Sessions: No AIDS, No Salmonella, and No Gulf War Respectively'' – [[Vinyl record|LP]]; 1992 (''[[Compilation album|compilation]] of the first 3 of the band's 5 [[John Peel|Peel Sessions]]'')
**''Libertino'' – CD; 1993
**"Alcohol" / "Amnesia" – single; 1995
**''Wyau / Pyst'' – CD; 1995 (''composed of the two earlier albums of the same names'')
*[[Ankstmusik]] Records
**''Datblygu 1985–1995'' – CD; 1999 (''collection of previously released singles, compilation tracks and EPs'')
**''Wyau, Pyst a Libertino'' – [[double CD]]; 2004 (''the three previous albums reissued as a double CD'')
**''Can Y Mynach Modern'' – 7-inch single; 2008
**''The Peel Sessions 1987–1993'' – CD; 2008 (all five Peel sessions)
**''Darluniau'r Ogof Unfed Ganrif ar Hugain'' – 7-inch vinyl EP; 2012
**''Erbyn Hyn'' – CD mini-album; 2014
**''Porwr Trallod'' – LP, CD; 2015
**''Cwm Gwagle'' – LP; 2020
**''Terfysgiaith'' - 1982-2022- LP; 2023

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/d/datblygu/ Peel Sessions by Datblygu]
* {{Discogs artist|Datblygu}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1982 establishments in Wales]]
[[Category:2021 disestablishments in Wales]]
[[Category:Welsh musical trios]]
[[Category:Welsh rock music groups]]
[[Category:Welsh-language bands]]
[[Category:Welsh-speaking musicians]]
[[Category:Welsh post-punk music groups]]
[[Category:Minimal wave groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1982]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1995]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2021]]