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LATEST NEWS: Jakokoyak appears on Japanese label Rallye Records' compilation cd 'Goodbye Blue Monday'. Other artists include Au Revoir Simone, Rubies, Lykke Li, Parachutes, The Rosie Taylor Project and Blood Music. Out now and available at all main music stores in Japan - HMV, Diskunion etc

Rallye Records (JAPAN) website here!

DISCOGRAPHY:

Flatyre (2006)

Am Cyfan Dy Pethau Prydferth (2004),

Am Cyfan Dy Pethau Prydferth (2003)

A Sentimental Journey(2001)

COMPILATION CDs:

CD Siarc Mawr (August 2006)

Folk Off! compilation (June 2006)

Dan Y Cownter (2005)

Gigs, Chips a 'Trip' Mewn Tacsi! (2004)

New Welsh Talent 2003 (2003)

A Step In The Left Direction (2001)

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INTRODUCTION:

"Imagine Lalo Schifrin writing a Super Furry Animals musical, with Simple Kid doing the words with Beck, while Serge Gainsbourg's lighting a fag, and you're still only halfway to unraveling the threads of this particular genius."

Welsh maybe, but Jakokoyak may very well have schooled at Air and Mellows French ambient establishment. This is one mans chilled out journey and its pretty special. There is a Beta Band, Super Furry Animal prog-ness about it, but its more cut down. Unlike the aforementioned Air and Mellow, Jakokoyak hasnt opted to sing in English, but has stuck to Welsh and that adds an extra interest somehow because I suppose 90% of us will have to guess what each song is about. Recorded with harmonica, melodica, guitars, keyboards and vocals, the Jakokoyak sound is seductive, perfect for late night smoky bars and rainy nights.

To date, Jakokoyak has released the award winning debut album 'Am Cyfan Dy Pethau Prydferth'. Rhys Edwards aka Jakokoyak has produced a kind of low-profile Selected Ambient Works, recorded between 1998 and 2003, and consisting of collected instrumentals and vocal pieces. 'Am Cyfan Dy Pethau Prydferth' (the title comes from a badly translated poster spotted in Cardiff, and means For All You Beautiful Things) was released in 2003 and was released in Japan during 2004. A collection of instrumentals and experimental vocal pieces, Jakokoyak's debut album brought him many fans - notably in Japan, where it was released on the Macaroni label during 2004. He toured there in autumn 2005, headlining gigs and supporting the Super Furry Animals. A BAFTA Wales nominated documentary followed him on tour and saw him return to the village he once lived in as a child in Japan.

During 2005, Jakokoyak embarked on a short tour of Japan supporting the Super Furry Animals and an EP, Flatyre, was released in January 2006 featuring five new songs of rambunctious inventiveness, all produced, written and recorded by mainman Rhys Edwards. Consisting of two Welsh-language songs, two in English and an instrumental, it continued the evolutionary journey that began on the album. The track ‘Eira’(Snow) was a record of the week on London’s XFM station and appeared on a Sunday Best compilation (‘Folk Off!’) which included the best in new folktronica music from the UK and North America. From regular plays on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Cymru and stations across the UK, Jakokoyak started to create a stir and tunes such as the ambient ‘Panic’ was even played on Classic FM. His diverseness transcends genres and has a massive potential to achieve wide appeal. Having supported Mogwai in a BBC Radio 1 session and performed across the UK and festivals such as Latitude and Truck, Jakokoyak’s lo-fi folktronic element is starting to get the attention it deserves.

This year, Jakokoyak has been quietly creating a new album called ‘Aerophlot’- listen to some of his new tracks on this page. It’s the first time he’s been bothered enough to use a proper studio and sees him experimenting and combining the idea of home-recording with a produced studio sound. The result is bold, innovative and very catchy and co-produced with Kris Jenkins (The Peth, Zabrinski, SFA). Imagine Broadcast joining up with Beck and then bringing in the Super Furry Animals to perform on top of it, and you’re not too far off. (That last fantasy is actually true – Daf and Guto from the SFA performs on some of the tracks). Sprinkle a bit of Chernolbyl dust and a breath of Scandinavian fresh air, and you’ll be even closer.