Gruff Rhys has been rightly lauded for his ‘American Interior‘ album, and now the book form of his multimedia project has been equally recognised with a nomination for the Gordon Burn Prize, which organisers say is for those who follow in the ‘fearless footsteps’ of the eponymous author.
‘American Interior’s various forms tell the story of Welsh explorer John Evans, who travelled to America in the 18th century in search of a mystical Welsh-speaking Native American tribe called The Madogwys.
Rhys’ nomination alongside five other writers puts him in with a chance of winning £5,000 as a judging panel consisting of actor and musician Julian Barratt, poet John Burnside, artist Sarah Lucas and novelist Benjamin Myers make their decision.
“‘American Interior’ is a fantastic work of art,” Live4ever’s review reads. “A rethink in a Welsh accent of what accidents can emerge as something solid. Gruff Rhys remains an individual made up of many moods.”
“‘Walk In the Wilderness’ gives the listener space to breathe in a perfectly executed collision course of powerful piano bashes, gentle country-influenced acoustic strokes and vocals that rise up and sink low in a melody designed to melt stars and shower us in an extraordinary symphony.”