Welsh/Anglo collective Wenallt Star return with “CAESAR”, their fourth single ahead of a new vinyl album due in December 2026. Following their 2025 album ‘…all her geese are swans’, the group continues to explore their own musical territory, blending spoken word, literary references, and jazz influences in an interesting way. For this release, David Lambert is joined by guitarist Dave King, bassist John Moray and percussionist Tony Morton. Together, they tell a story about oppression, giving the track a darker edge as the music takes on a more fluid, Bohemian jazz direction. The piece also clearly references the world of Dmitri Shostakovich, whose influence adds another interesting dimension to the overall character of the work. David Lambert’s approach to spoken word plays an important role here. He uses his trademark cut-up technique, repurposing passages from Julian Barnes’ novel ‘The Noise of Time’. The result brings an ironic darkness to the narrative, creating an interesting contrast with the jazz-influenced instrumentation. The spoken passages and the music have their own character, yet they work together to tell the story.
The musicians’ collaboration is another highlight. Each brings their own ideas to the arrangement, and the group finds a balance between the darker nature of the spoken text and the music’s freedom. As Lambert explains, working together allowed them to explore how best to tell the story through space, balance, and trust. Sean South’s production also plays an important role in bringing their ideas together and presenting the intended sound. I particularly enjoy the contrast between the serious subject matter and the flowing jazz elements. The use of text from Julian Barnes’ novel also gives the track an interesting literary connection that adds something special to the listening experience. With “CAESAR”, Wenallt Star continues to explore different creative approaches to music and storytelling. Their latest single is another welcome release from the collective, especially for listeners who appreciate experimental ideas and unusual musical collaborations.
Follow Wenallt Star on social media to keep up with their latest releases and news about the upcoming December album. Listen to “CAESAR,” add it to your playlist, and share it with friends who enjoy discovering independent artists doing things their own way. The collective’s work offers plenty to explore, and keeping up with their releases is a great way to follow their creative progress.
