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Brenda ray – D’ya Hear Me : Naffi Years 1979-83 (LP album)
47,00 €
CONDITION: Pre-owned – Mint, new (M)
Unsealed vinyl, listened to for review
1 LP (black vinyl)
Brenda Ray is a British artist whose work, although little-known to the general public, had a notable influence on the underground music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her album “D’Ya Hear Me!: Naffi Years, 1979-83” released in 2012 on the Japanese label EM Records, compiles recordings made between 1979 and 1983, offering an insight into the artist’s eclectic and experimental world.
In the late 1970s, the United Kingdom was in a state of musical turmoil. Punk rock paved the way for a multitude of sonic experiments, giving rise to hybrid genres blending reggae, dub, funk, and post-punk. It was in this context that Brenda Ray, also known as Brenda Kenny, Natalie Sand, or Polly Rithm, emerged on the Liverpool music scene. She founded the collective Naffi with her musician friends, including artist Sir Freddie ViaduKt aka Gerry Kenny. Together, they explored innovative musical territories, far from traditional commercial circuits.
The Naffi collective embodied the DIY (Do It Yourself) spirit of the era. Recording their tracks in a home studio, they favored a lo-fi approach. Their Bandcamp describes the album as “a collection of year-round summer breezes,” highlighting the influence of reggae and funk, as well as the use of analog dub effects and Brenda’s captivating female vocals.
“D’Ya Hear Me!: Naffi Years, 1979-83” is a testament to an era when music was constantly reinventing itself, when artists like Brenda Ray pushed the boundaries of creativity with modest means but boundless passion.
Label: EM records – EM1101LP 2
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Description
Released in 2012 on the Japanese label EM Records, “Brenda Ray – D’Ya Hear Me!: Naffi Years, 1979-83” is a fascinating compilation highlighting the work of Brenda Ray, a discreet but influential figure in the British underground scene. This album brings together recordings made between 1979 and 1983, a period during which Brenda Ray and her collective Naffi explored hybrid sounds blending dub, reggae, experimental pop, and touches of post-punk.
In the late 1970s, the British music scene was undergoing a profound transformation. The explosion of punk paved the way for freer and more experimental sonic explorations. In this context, Brenda Ray (also known under the pseudonyms Natalie Sand or Polly Rithm) stands out as a bold artist, rejecting conventions and adopting a DIY (Do It Yourself) approach. Based in Liverpool, she collaborates with musicians such as Sir Freddie ViaduKt aka Minister of Noise within the Naffi collective, which produces its tracks completely independently.
“Brenda Ray – D’Ya Hear Me!: Naffi Years, 1979-83” is a true immersion into the world of Brenda Ray. The album is distinguished by a lo-fi production and a unique blend of influences. The reggae and dub rhythms, omnipresent in the compositions, are enriched by experimental sounds, echo effects, hazy synthesizers, and the ethereal vocals of Brenda Ray.
The Japanese label EM Records, renowned for its reissues of forgotten musical treasures, has introduced a new generation to Brenda Ray’s work. This retrospective has highlighted the importance of her contribution to British experimental music and her role in the DIY scene of the time.
D’Ya Hear Me!: Naffi Years, 1979-83 is a precious work that captures the spirit of an era when music was a limitless playground for experimentation. Through its bold blend of dub, pop, and avant-garde, Brenda Ray reveals an intuitive and free-spirited approach to music making, making this album an essential reference for lovers of atypical and timeless sounds.
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