The former Pipettes vocalist comes to the Rialto Theatre in support of her ode to the Cornish language, Le Kov.

You could argue that delivering an entire album sung in the ancient language of Cornish would limit the audience and leave many listeners confused or even excluded, but on Gwenno Saunders’ second solo album, she manages to make an album that not only evades these issues but completely transcends them.

While there may only be a handful of speakers of the language who will be able to fully appreciate the lyrics, which explore a forgotten part of Britain’s heritage and culture, the album’s sonic palette and its dream-like delivery is enough to win over any sceptics, with its gorgeous combination of motorik grooves, swirling soundscapes and 60s-inspired hooks.

Gwenno’s foray into the Cornish language follows her 2015 effort Y Dydd Olaf, an album sung entirely in Welsh, her native tongue. Having grown up in Cardiff to a Welsh mother and a Cornish father, the poet and linguist Tim Saunders, Gwenno wished to use her new record as an opportunity to explore another side of her upbringing and tell a series of stories about a place she feels a strong attachment to.

It is in the album’s title Le Kov, which translates to ‘the place of memory’ that a sense of fondness for the county can initially be seen, but dive deeper into the music and it is evident that the passion for Cornwall’s heritage runs even deeper.

While all this may make it seem like much of the music is steeped in tradition and history, there are some contemporary themes and styles that creep their way into Gwenno’s songs such as ‘Jynn-amontya’, Cornish for ‘computer’, covers ideas about technology and bringing the Cornish language into the 21^st century. When taken in light of the recent EU referendum, much of the narrative about Cornish identity also takes a whole new perspective and demonstrates the region’s rich cultural diversity.

Accompanying her for the Brighton leg of her tour is Omaloma, the Welsh and English-speaking project of George Amor which aptly brings a fusion of retro synths and psychedelia to what promises to be a remarkable show.

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