Breton band Daonet release debut album 'Donemat'

A few years ago a tape surfaced of Jimi Hendrix apparently performing the track 'Land of my Fathers', the Welsh national anthem. Those with some knowledge of France or Celtic culture will know that the tune is the same as that used as the national anthem of Brittany, Bro Gozh Ma Zadou.

However, the recording - which was played on the BBC news in 2007 in the UK - turned out to be a hoax. Had it been genuine it would have been a holy grail for those into celtic music and rock music, in not just Wales but in Brittany as well.

The national anthem of Brittany is a source of price, sung at occasions from football matches to political meetings, and interpretations of it vary from the boisterous to the beautiful.

Breton band rock Daonet, who release out their debut album Donemat today, are the latest to update the song. Their album features an interpretation of the song that puts it squarely in a modern celtic rock context.

The band have been on my radar since the days of MySpace, and I'm pleased to report that the album is great piece of work.

The release comes three years after the Nantes-based three piece released their Rok a Raok EP. Those three years have seen the band mature and develop their craft and the album sees the band becoming impressive musical ambassadors for Brittany.

There have been other great Breton rock acts in the past, EV, Stivell, Soldat Louis and Merzhin to name just a few, and by the looks of things Daonet will not be long until Daonet take their place among them.