Llyn Y Cwn – Megaliths In Dub (Digital/CD Album – Cold Spring)
Last year, Ben Powell released the album “Megaliths”, and now the Welshman returns with a completely different approach, transforming its songs into a dub-driven whole.
This new album is undoubtedly the most surprising and unexpected work from Llyn Y Cwn (Lake of Dogs). While the foundation remains rooted in Dark-Ambient, Drone, and Industrial elements, an entirely unforeseen Dub dimension has been added. This is achieved primarily through Llyn Y Cwn’s characteristic sound—already known for its depth—now pushed even further with an intensified low end. The result is an ultra-deep and intensely vibrant soundwave that can, at times, feel almost overwhelming, yet remains unique and sublime. Occasional Electro accents surface, adding variation while simultaneously reinforcing the album’s menacing atmosphere. Despite its minimalist structure, the album maintains a captivating presence from beginning to end.
The work is undeniably challenging, but also visionary—an open door to new possibilities for the project’s future. It still sounds dark and tormented, yet also innovative and, above all, exceptionally well-crafted. A masterpiece! (Rating:8½).
Listen to “Boscawen Transmutation”:
About Llyn Y Cwn
Llyn Y Cwn, Welsh for “Lake of Dogs”, is the project of Welsh musician Benjamin Ian Powell. The work mixes dark ambient, drone, and industrial textures, frequently built from field recordings. On the 2022 album “Du Y Moroedd”, issued through Cold Spring, Powell built the tracks from underwater recordings of WW1 shipwrecks off the North Wales coast. “Megaliths In Dub” reworks his earlier album “Megaliths” into a dub-driven form for the same label.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
