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Moving in the same circles as prog pop stars Super Furry Animals and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, it’s surprising we haven’t lauded this Welsh solo artist before. Her debut release Edrych yn Llygaid Ceffyl Benthyg (Looking In The Eyes Of A Borrowed Horse to the rest of us) was recorded in her native tongue, and showed Le Bon to be a welcome addition to this rich seam of leftfield innovators.
Album three, Mug Museum was recorded in LA with Noah Georgeson (Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart), and it’s a gentle amble through a 1970s land of grey and pink that’s much closer to our hearts, coloured by the Canterbury scene, Syd Barrett and her Camarthenshire home.
Le Bon specialises in airy, understated songs that are hugely reminiscent of Kevin Ayers – opener I Can’t Help You finds the swing of Singing A Song… snuggled next to Roxy sax stings. next to Roxy sax stings. It’s Le Bon’s articulated mezzo that will either attract or repel and the production is so warm and organic that you can hear the piano stool creaking as she performs the hauntingly odd title track.
That she’s selling her own range of handcrafted mugs to go with the release surely proves she really does belong in these pages.
Jo is a journalist, podcaster, event host and music industry lecturer who joined Kerrang! in 1999 and then the dark side – Prog – a decade later as Deputy Editor. Jo's had tea with Robert Fripp, touched Ian Anderson's favourite flute (!) and asked Suzi Quatro what one wears under a leather catsuit. Jo is now Associate Editor of Prog, and a regular contributor to Classic Rock. She continues to spread the experimental and psychedelic music-based word amid unsuspecting students at BIMM Institute London and can be occasionally heard polluting the BBC Radio airwaves as a pop and rock pundit. Steven Wilson still owes her £3, which he borrowed to pay for parking before a King Crimson show in Aylesbury.