Metheglin profile picture

Metheglin

Drone-Based Instrumental Music with a twist!

About Me

Clare Hines and Pete Coleman were 2 members of the now defunct French Dance Music Group Dulzaina, and now as Metheglin, they play a more concert based repertoire of original compositions on Hurdy-Gurdy and English Bagpipes, sometimes featuring samples/percussion and noises!

The English bagpipes are Jon Swayne "G" and "D" pipes.... the gurdies are both French - Denis Siorat electro-acoustic and a traditional lute backed Boudet.

About the name Metheglin:

Metheglin is type of mead drink - along with Melomel, Cyser, Hydromel, Pyment and probably others too. In French Melomel is known as Chouchenn. Anyone who has been involved in the French dance scene in the UK for any length of time will recognise at least two of these as band names - and we decided to go with the trend!
The name Metheglin has a further significance, it is derived from the Welsh word meddyglyn, meaning "medicinal liquor" but was a very common Cornish mead. Until recently, Pete lived in Wales and Clare lived for many years in Cornwall - so the name brings these two influences together.

Pete is also one of the country's leading engineer/producers of rock music, having worked with bands like AC/DC, Paradise Lost,etc in his long industrious career!

The background graphic to this site is based on the drawing on the front cover of Making Mead by Bryan Acton and Peter Duncan.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 9/4/2006
Band Members: Clare Hines, Pete Coleman
Influences: Gilles Chabenat, Blowzabella, Jethro Tull,French Dance Music, Wendigo, Leo Kottke, Angel Brothers, Eel Grinders..and we both find the CDs "Tramé" and "Movements Clos" an inspiration (both are Gilles Chabenat)
Sounds Like: Medieval undertones (both are Medieval musical instruments!) But with a modern twist!!
The music is a fusion of traditional french dance and more contemporary dance rhythms, with drones and percussion providing the driving force to the sound!
Record Label: Pipe-Dream Music
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

New Tune Snippets

Well.... 2 New Excerpts from tracks which will go on our CD "Raining in Paradise".Charmer's Polska is a traditional Swedish tune, here played on Gurdy, D Pipes, with Clare playing Digeridoo in the mid...
Posted by Metheglin on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:11:00 PST

"Grace" Excerpt uploaded

Hello all!We have just added a short excerpt from our mix of "Grace" which will be on ouralbum "Raining in Paradise", which will be available later this year.Featuring Gill Redmond on Cello; Dan Wolve...
Posted by Metheglin on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:56:00 PST

Grace.....

We have just finished the initial mix of "Grace" - one of the tracks on our forthcoming CD "Raining in Paradise"oh wow! Its not often that I am SO moved by a piece of music. I can't listen to it too o...
Posted by Metheglin on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:29:00 PST

Recording coming together!

What a fab session we've just had!Our friends Mike Gulston and Blanche Rowan (see top friends) came over onsunday and laid down some impressive guitar and vocals on some of our material.Together with ...
Posted by Metheglin on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:46:00 PST

New Youtube video

Thanks to Matt Archibald...Photographer and fan..who filmed us at the Stroud Fringe Festival.We have now included this on our myspace!Cheers Matt!
Posted by Metheglin on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 03:51:00 PST

Les Panards dansant ....

Otherwise known as the gig in Otley.It was smashing, we had a lovely time and played a dance set on Saturday night (we were first on).Yannick and Janet were stars as always and all the support and ste...
Posted by Metheglin on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 09:16:00 PST

Youtube Video

Wow! fame at last! I'm glad someone was videoing at the Hurdy-gurdy festival. So here for your delectation and delight.... is Metheglintake it away maestro...... ...
Posted by Metheglin on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 05:17:00 PST

Stroud Fringe Festival ...

What an excellent event! What an excellent day! (of course I DO mean Sunday - which is when we played). Altogether a very satisfying gig - it felt really good and I believe we played well - either way...
Posted by Metheglin on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:45:00 PST

France , the Universe and.. er... everything!

had a LOVELY time at St Chartier... bought a frame drum (only been wanting one for 7 years now..). Met lots of friends and generally had a GOOD time.Currently working hard on the new CD - we hope it w...
Posted by Metheglin on Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:00:00 PST

1st ever Annual Hurdy-gurdy fest in Lancaster....

Wow! that was fun! Apparently the festival was famous, getting mentions on Channel 4, Radio 2 and in lots of papers etc..... So we feel honoured to have played in concert on the Friday night at the 1s...
Posted by Metheglin on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:20:00 PST