Bill Ryder-Jones, former member and co-founder of The Coral, released his fifth studio album this week, which submerges listeners into an alluring state of melancholy. Iechyd Da means “Good Health” in Welsh and the album explores themes of love, loss, despair, and hope, balancing both deep sadness and eternal beauty.
Opener ‘I Know That It’s Like This (Baby)’ sets the wistful tone, paying homage to Gal Costa’s ‘Baby’ through a prominent sample, launching listeners into a world of lyrical and alternative delights through the first of Jones’ many musical touchstones.
Ever the reliable wordsmith, Jones is in remarkable form here. Not only does he connect with listeners through the universal despair of love, he also utilises a variety of different styles, notably with the use of a children’s choir and the reading of Ulysses during the intimate instrumental track ‘…And The Sea…’.
With his producer cap on Jones said, “It’s basically me carrying on with myself again, but this time around I’m a bit more competent as a producer, so I’m looking at songs with that head on.”
The record feels homely, comfortable, and familiar, adding to its emotional magnitude because despite the recurring – and gut-wrenching – motif of love lost, listeners can take comfort in the heartfelt, string-laden arrangements. Jones accompanies his instrumentals with vulnerable, exposed, and tender lyrics, which harmonise to create a unique intimacy between listener and artist.
Notably, Iechyd Da provides a strong connection to Jones’ Welsh roots. The title is something the Welsh say before drinking – which assumes a sense of celebration within the record. “My love of Wales has always been there,” Jones says. “Half of my family is from there, I lost my brother there, all my childhood holidays were in Scotland or Wales. It’s just a magical place with an incredibly beautiful language.”
The album artwork portrays a painting of a moonlit house in the fishing village of Crail, where Jones went often as a child. The childhood nostalgia is glaringly clear, and in awe with the painting, Jones said, “That painting was so beautiful, and it reminded me of safety and home,” he says. “I think with this record, I want it to be like a home, where people can come and feel safe, like my favourite records are for me.”
‘Nos Da’ is the closing track, a soothing lullaby translated as “good night”, which finishes the album perfectly. The journey from “Good Health” to “Goodnight” epitomizes the emotionally strenuous journey listeners are taken on whilst listening, and also the journey love takes all of us on.
Iechyd Da evokes a wistful and melancholic outlook on love and loss. The self-referential lyrics combined with traditional strings and expert sampling make for an amazingly nostalgic and rueful record, but one which ultimately radiates hope in the unlikeliest of circumstances.