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0:00:09 > 0:00:12- Welcome to a special edition - of Y Stiwdio Gefn.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17- Over the next hour, we'll have - music from a legendary musician...
0:00:17 > 0:00:21- ..who's the most influential artist - on the Welsh rock scene.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25- His songs are still - as popular and relevant as ever.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30- Tonight, we have some old favourites - and tracks from his latest album.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33- It's a pleasure to introduce - Geraint Jarman.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50- Geraint, welcome to Y Stiwdio Gefn.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55- You performed Gobaith Mawr y Ganrif - from your first album in 1976.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59- What were you - trying to convey back then?
0:04:59 > 0:05:03- I'd been writing - for Heather and Tebot Piws.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07- I also wrote satirical songs - for a Wynford Ellis Owen show.
0:05:07 > 0:05:13- Afterwards, I started writing songs - that weren't for anyone else.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18- They were songs that I'd written - for myself and I enjoyed this.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22- I wrote Gobaith Mawr y Ganrif - in 1974.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28- You're going to perform Hiraeth - am Kylie from your new album.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33- It's a song about that feeling...
0:05:33 > 0:05:38- ..when you look back - at a certain period in your life.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44- Perhaps it's a time - that you long to return to...
0:05:44 > 0:05:50- ..because things were so different - to what life is like now.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53- At the time, I was looking back...
0:05:53 > 0:05:57- ..at the time I spent - working with Neil White.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02- During the 1980s, - we wrote lots of songs together.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07- He would always wear a t-shirt - with a picture of Kylie on it.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10- He loved Kylie.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13- He sold carpets at Ponty Market.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- That's where he'd buy the t-shirts.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21- He had one that said - "Frankie Says Go To Ponty Market!"
0:10:49 > 0:10:52- Hiraeth am Kylie is the opening song - on your new album.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55- Can you tell us - about Tacsi i'r Tywyllwch?
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- The year 1977 - was an exciting time for music.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- What was your - musical direction back then?
0:11:03 > 0:11:07- I'd met Tich - and that point was critical.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12- A boy from the same class as me, - John Morgan played the bass.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17- I also met Richard Dunn - and Cat, the drummer.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- We started doing - even more recording.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23- On Tacsi i'r Tywyllwch...
0:11:23 > 0:11:27- ..there are songs like Ambiwlans, - Bourgeois Roc and Pornograffi.
0:11:27 > 0:11:33- These songs represented us - as a semi-punk band.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37- We started to experiment with reggae - during Dyddiau Caethiwed.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41- You mentioned Ambiwlans - and Bourgeois Roc...
0:11:41 > 0:11:46- ..so why have you decided - to perform Tacsi i'r Tywyllwch?
0:11:46 > 0:11:49- It's because of the song's nature.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53- At some point, everyone - will experience this feeling.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56- When you go out - and have one drink too many...
0:11:57 > 0:12:01- ..you might want - to go home in a taxi.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- It's a part of city life.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09- You step into the darkness - with Tacsi i'r Tywyllwch.
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0:22:10 > 0:22:14- Let's move on to discuss one of your - most iconic songs, Gwesty Cymru.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- It's also one of your most - political songs.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20- Yes, I think it is.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- There was a Gwesty Cymru - on Newport Road in Cardiff.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28- It was a bit of a dive - with a sign that swayed in the wind.
0:22:29 > 0:22:35- We rehearsed at the YMCA - for the Caernarfon Eisteddfod.
0:22:35 > 0:22:41- During the breaks in the rehearsal, - Tich would play a certain riff.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46- He'd look over at me for approval - but I just ignored him!
0:22:46 > 0:22:51- We eventually used - a version of the riff...
0:22:51 > 0:22:54- ..and introduced - more elements to the song.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59- We looked at Wales - in the same light...
0:22:59 > 0:23:03- ..as an ex-wife - that chases other men.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07- We've seen outsiders coming in...
0:23:07 > 0:23:13- ..and they've built luxurious homes.
0:23:13 > 0:23:18- It's one of the main songs - that I co-wrote with Tich.
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0:27:43 > 0:27:47- Gwesty Cymru was a symbol of Wales - opposing the devolution.
0:27:47 > 0:27:53- Next, we move on to Tracsiwt Gwyrdd - but what does the song it convey?
0:27:54 > 0:27:58- During the 1980s, I would often - visit my friends down the Docks.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03- They were Rastas and they had - a band called Roots and Branches...
0:28:03 > 0:28:09- ..during the time when I played - at the Casablanca Club.
0:28:09 > 0:28:14- Back then, the Cardiff Bay - Corporation was established.
0:28:14 > 0:28:20- It paved the way - for the Bay area regeneration.
0:28:21 > 0:28:26- You could tell that something awful - was going to happen...
0:28:26 > 0:28:29- ..to those who lived there.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31- I could see the threat.
0:28:32 > 0:28:38- I would play football in the area - which inspired Tracsiwt Gwyrdd.
0:28:38 > 0:28:43- Marley had a green tracksuit - and I had a green Adidas tracksuit.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46- You had to wear Adidas!
0:32:35 > 0:32:38- Let's discuss another ballad - on the new album.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42- What's the story behind - Gad Fi Gysgu'n y Gitar Heno?
0:32:42 > 0:32:46- In 1968 or 1969, I wrote a poem...
0:32:46 > 0:32:50- ..called Gadewch i Mi - Gysgu'n y Gitar Heno.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53- It was published in Barn.
0:32:53 > 0:32:59- I had always liked - the title of the poem.
0:32:59 > 0:33:05- The song is about a man who's in - a relationship that isn't working.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09- Music is his only pleasure.
0:33:09 > 0:33:15- He pours all his worries - into his music.
0:33:15 > 0:33:21- The narrative in the verses - reveals some awful things.
0:33:21 > 0:33:26- On the other hand, the chorus - is full of hope and happiness.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29- After writing the song...
0:33:30 > 0:33:36- ..I realized that it sounded like - something from The Sound of Music.
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0:42:13 > 0:42:17- Methu Dal y Pwysau comes from - your Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau album.
0:42:17 > 0:42:22- Some claim that it's - your best album but do you agree?
0:42:22 > 0:42:24- It's difficult to say.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29- What makes a best album?
0:42:29 > 0:42:34- However, it is an important album.
0:42:34 > 0:42:40- It reflects a time when the band - started playing live music.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42- I believe...
0:42:43 > 0:42:46- ..that it allowed these boys - to discover Wales.
0:42:46 > 0:42:51- I like to think of - Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, Gwesty Cymru...
0:42:51 > 0:42:54- ..and Fflamau'r Ddraig as a trilogy.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57- I've said this before.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01- It's my discovery of Wales.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06- You've worked with numerous artists - over the decades.
0:43:07 > 0:43:12- Next, we'll hear you perform Dwyn - Yr Hogyn Nol with Gareth Bonello.
0:43:12 > 0:43:16- It's a very simple song with just - a vocal and an acoustic guitar.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19- Why have you finally decided - to do this?
0:43:20 > 0:43:23- I like Gareth - and the records that he makes.
0:43:24 > 0:43:28- I like his voice - and he's a fantastic person.
0:43:28 > 0:43:34- His style resembles that of artists - from the 1960s...
0:43:34 > 0:43:39- ..like Syd Barrett, - John Renbourn and Bert Jansch.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43- He has the same sort of style.
0:43:43 > 0:43:48- He introduces his background - and his enthusiasm to his records.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52- We might have an idea about - what the song is all about...
0:43:53 > 0:43:58- ..but he shakes out something extra - with his fabulous guitar playing.
0:43:58 > 0:44:04- However, it's too late in the day - for me to write music like that.
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0:53:01 > 0:53:04- Strangetown - is about an area in Cardiff.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07- Cardiff is important to you...
0:53:07 > 0:53:12- ..but how important is it - to convey a city feel in your music?
0:53:12 > 0:53:15- I don't realize when it happens.
0:53:15 > 0:53:21- If I was T H Parry-Williams, - I'd probably sing about Snowdonia.
0:53:21 > 0:53:27- I know Grangetown well - as I was raised in Riverside.
0:53:27 > 0:53:32- I would go and play there - and follow the river.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35- I have lots of friends - who live in the area.
0:53:35 > 0:53:41- When I worked with Llwybr Llaethog, - Mark Roberts would call in.
0:53:41 > 0:53:47- I'd been working on this song but - it didn't attract much attention.
0:53:47 > 0:53:51- However, - Mark really liked the melody.
0:53:51 > 0:53:57- It's one of the most - experimental songs on the album.
0:53:57 > 0:54:03- To me, it sounds like something - written by Lee Perry.
0:54:03 > 0:54:05- It's rather exciting.
0:54:06 > 0:54:09- Geraint, - thanks for visiting Y Stiwdio Gefn.
0:54:09 > 0:54:14- I've enjoyed hearing some new tracks - and your old favourites.
0:54:14 > 0:54:16- Will there be another album?
0:54:17 > 0:54:20- There are enough songs - to release another album...
0:54:21 > 0:54:24- ..but we'll see what Ankst's - Emyr Glyn Williams thinks.
0:54:25 > 0:54:29- This album took - two and a half years to complete...
0:54:29 > 0:54:31- ..but it was worth it.
0:54:32 > 0:54:33- So who knows?
0:54:34 > 0:54:37- Good luck and thanks again.
0:59:42 > 0:59:44- S4C Subtitles by Tinopolis
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