RIP – Emyr Ankst – a tribute
The death of Emyr Glyn Williams has robbed Wales of one of its driving forces.
Founder of the Ankst Record label he tirelessly promoted the music scene in Wales. Releasing over 170 records by a huge assortment of bands and performers.
He became known as ‘Emyr Ankst’, running the label from his house, converting the garage into an office and store-room. Ankst remained true to its low-budget not for profit ideals at a time when the ‘Arts’ in Wales fell to corporate control and public funding.
Ankst championed young and ground breaking bands, many of whom such as Super Furry Animals, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci and Y Cyrff (later members of Catatonia) went on to international success with mainstream labels.
However, Ankst catalogue consists mainly of non-commercial bands bands like Datblygu, Klaus Kinski, Wendykurk, Rheinallt H Rowlands and Ectogram.Emyr founded the Ankst label together with friends Alun Llwyd and Gruff Jones in 1988. Between 1988 and 1997, they released around 80 records before splitting into two separate companies. Emyr took over the record release side and established the Ankstmusik label. Alun Llwyd and Gruff Jones went on to establish Ankst Management Ltd. was responsible for looking after business and management of groups.
Electric Deckchair is a double CD and it is the fourth release from this Welsh experimental trio, comprising of 2 guitars, drums, vocals, and may I add, the odd bad synth here and there. It is very much in a Velvet Underground/Syd Barrett style, and overall the compositions are simplistic in a way and seem to be aimed at anyone who can make sense of it. Both CD’s comprise of 5 tracks apiece, and both, in time length, come under the 50 minute mark. As a starting point I will say with honesty that Ectogram will certainly not be to everyone’s taste, mine included, and could indeed be termed as a very hard listen. Just for the record.