The Modernaires

More gloomy Welsh post-punk - this time with the added novelty of a bit of saxophone in the mix. The Modernaires were Phil Bradley (guitar); Huw Hughes (bass); Brian Roberts (vocals); and Dave Baynton-Power (drums), who would later join Manchester band James. The Modernaires hailed from Holyhead and Llangefni. Their single Life in Our Times came out in 1980. Also released in that same year was Way of Living, their one and only LP. Soon after this The Modernaires, chameleon-like, changed their name to Y Brodyr Ffin (Border Brothers) and began singing in Welsh. They later mutated again to Y Brodyr (The Brothers). The band became extremely popular on the Welsh-language music scene, invigorating it with their modern sound. At the time they were regarded as pioneers and today they are still held in high esteem by Welsh musicologists.