Review of HEDDLU’s album “Tramor” on Joyzine
Posted on 31/08/202531/08/2025 by paulfcook
ALBUM REVIEW: HEDDLU – TRAMOR
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Tramor (meaning ‘Overseas’ in Welsh) is the new album from Heddlu, aka Rhodri Daniel one of the founding members of Estrons, a band I adored but who sadly split in 2019. The post-Estrons, pre-Heddlu years were tough going for Daniel as he had profound problems with hearing loss, tinnitus and extreme sensitivity to sound and, for a musician, I cannot begin to understand how devastating that would have been. Heddlu’s debut album cantref was composed in his head while completing the Wales Coastal Path, and mixed soundtrack-vibes with some harsher edged pop – like a punk ethos filtered through synthesisers. Tramor is has a more arms-wide-electro-acoustic rock feel with some top-of-the-cliff, huge vista tunes.
‘Y Pell’ opens the album and drifts in like mist off the sea with oscillation, swelling tides of arpeggios and drum rolls before ‘Fire a Flare’ brings the first big pop tune riding on a slow swagger built on bungy chords and blown out guitar riffs. Motown beats abound on ‘Paid a Besco am Dim’ (Welsh for ‘Don’t worry about a thing’), which I described in my single review as ‘Guitars punch out chords on the beat, spongy vocoder vocals and soaring tunes abound, and the lightly fuzzed guitar and vocal harmonies are a delight as they flow in and out of the reedy organ that ties everything together’.
The punchy songs draw a direct line back to the ferocity of Estrons but there is more introspection on Tramor with songs such as ‘Cut The Rope’ with its delicate guitar and vocal opening, the slow ballad ‘Honestly’ which soars in the chorus, the cathedral-vibe of instrumental ‘Le Fay’ and the space journey of ‘Waits For No Man’ which has haunted pub piano and a sizzling guitar solo.
Thank heavens that Rhodri Daniels health returned so that he could make such fine music (with huge support from his family and, in particular, his sister). Those hard times may have fuelled some of the introspection on Tramor, but those big chords and soaring melodies feel like a bright sun burning off the clouds.
Heddlu: Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
I can highly recommend Estrons album You Say I’m Too Much, I Say You’re Not Enough which still sounds amazingly fresh and if the song ‘Lilac’ doesn’t quicken your pulse then seek medical help.
Review by Paul F Cook
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This entry was posted in:Album ReviewsTagged with:alternative, alternative rock, electronic, rock, United Kingdom, Wales, Welsh language musicPublished by paulfcookPersonal websiteView all posts by paulfcook
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