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Pictures supplied by James Hay |
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Johnny Mango 9th January 2001
We are in northern Holland for EuroSonic 2001. Radio stations across Europe are presenting their nation's finest and most promising talent. The result is seventy bands from all over Europe, performing in twelve venues in the charming setting of Gronigen University. The festival, which has sold out for the last three years running, is broadcast live on radio stations across Europe. The whole of the Dutch and much of the European music industry are here as well as media and music fans alike.
Radio 1's John Peel has selected Melys to represent the UK. What is really unexpected is the amount of people in the packed audience who have come specifically to see the Welsh four-piece. The stamp of John Peel and the 5 sessions he has previously broadcast have produced a strong Dutch following.
The electrifying set starts with Tiny Bombs from their album, Kamikaze. It builds and grows through tracks such as Lullaby, reaching what seems like a crescendo for their recent and brilliant single Un Darllenwr Lwcus. Paul Adams screams of 'What the hell did she say' in reply to Andrea Parker's beautifully and angrily delivered Welsh lyrics, provide the track with hugely emotive tension. A lack of knowledge of the Welsh language takes nothing from the performance, in fact, whatever the lead singer is saying it is obvious that Adams is getting a right royal bollocking!
Melys are not afraid to use unusual percussion. Andrea smashing shit out of a road sign on Baby Tornado is surprisingly compelling and a beer barrel with accompanying hammer is no match for bassist Richard Eardley as he whips up a storm on the finale Disco Pig.
Melys have delivered a brilliant set and judging by the amount of post gig interest have certainly confirmed or converted the large majority of the audience.
The gig is being broadcast on John Peel's Radio show 10th Jan at 10pm.
Taken from Dotmusic.com 5th January 2001
Imagine the Eurovision Song Contest without the cheese, and what you'd end up with is the Eurosonic Festival - seventy up and coming bands from all over Europe, performing in twelve venues in the picturesque university city of Groningen. The festival, which has sold out for the last three years running, is broadcast live on European Radio and draws large interest from the European music industry, media and music fans alike.
One of the stand-out acts of the weekend are Melys, a little known indie outfit from North Wales whose current stature belies their talent. They unleash an electrifying set, which starts slowly and builds to a crescendo with 'Disco Pig' in which Richard Eardley (normally the bassist!) beats mercilessly on a metal beer barrel with a hammer.
Melys Live Other highlights of the set are emotive renditions of the classic tracks 'Lullaby' and 'Baby Tornado' - taken from the 'Kamikaze' album - and the latest single 'Un Darllenwr Lwcus' which has guitarist Paul Adams and vocalist Andrea Parker shouting dramatically at each other "what the f**k did you say!". That's what a large contingent of the audience are probably thinking too given the predominantly Welsh lyrics of the song. But Melys' charm lies in their performance and not merely in being able to understand all the words. They play with intensity, weaving tangible emotion with the use of beautiful vocals turned angry. And in addition to the normal guitars and drums, also manage to utilise such bizarre instrumentation as metal pipes and road signs to fantastic effect.
John Peel is in the audience and thanks to his recent live sessions on Radio 1 in which he championed Melys, coupled with the fact that they are the only British band chosen by Radio 1 to appear at Eurosonic, it's safe to say that this is not the last Europe has seen of this combo.