Colorama

Colorama are a Welsh psychedelic pop group from the United Kingdom, formed in Cardiff in 2008 around Carwyn Ellis. The line-up includes Ellis with Luca Guernieri and Andrea Garbo. Ellis is a multi-instrumentalist and producer who also works with other artists, including Edwyn Collins, Oasis, UNKLE, Shane MacGowan, James Hunter, Lay Low, Gemma Ray, The Pretenders and The 2 Bears.

Early releases and sound

The group’s debut album, Cookie Zoo, receives a release in Japan and gains strong critical attention. Their first single, Sound, introduces the band’s psychedelic pop style. Magic Lantern Show follows in 2009 and includes songs in Welsh and English. The track Dere Mewn becomes particularly well known in Wales and receives substantial radio play on both sides of the border.

Radio support and live performances

Colorama gain support from presenters including Huw Stephens, who describes their work as “incredible”, and Sean Rowley, who calls Magic Lantern Show a “Soft Psych Classic”. Marc Riley, Adam Walton, Bethan Elfyn and Gideon Coe also champion the band. Their releases receive extensive airplay on XFM, BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio Wales.

The band begins playing together in early July 2008 and performs at Glastonbury Festival, Latitude Festival, Home Game, the Sŵn Festival, Port Eliot Festival, Truck Festival, the National Eisteddfod and the Green Man Festival, among others.

Albums and recognition

In autumn 2010, Colorama release their third album, BOX, on Noise McCartney / Bad News Records in Japan and via See Monkey Do Monkey Recordings in the UK. They also issue the Christmas single Cerdyn Nadolig (“Christmas Card”), which reaches number one on the BBC Radio Cymru Christmas chart. BOX is nominated for the first Welsh Music Prize alongside artists including Gruff Rhys and Manic Street Preachers.

In October 2011, the band release Llyfr Lliwio (Colouring Book) on See Monkey Do Monkey Recordings. It is their first largely Welsh-language album, with only one track in English. Their fifth release, Good Music, is produced by Edwyn Collins and issued on his AED Records label. The group remains active.