Paul Adams - Guitar Andrea Parker - Vocals
Carys Jones - Keyboards Gary Husband - Drums
Melys formed following a two way ten quid bet. Andrea bet Paul
he couldn't write electronic music and Paul bet Andrea she
couldn't sing. They both lost their bets.
Their debut longplayer 'Rumours & Curses' will be released in June
on Arctic Records via Pinnacle Labels. The songs on the album
are paranoid laments about broken relationships turning bitter, ancient Egyptian
Queens, criminal urges, three am morning walks and more.
Melys first saw the light of day in 1996 with the track 'Cysur' appearing
on the Ankst Records compilation EP 'S4C Makes Me Want To Smoke Crack Vol
2'. This was followed by their first proper release 'Fragile', also
on Ankst in November 1996, which contained four soaring m~odies, with two sung
in Welsh and two in English - 'for those who like their pop archetypallyperfict
with afair measure of charm" according to the NME. 'Cuckoo' was available
in April '97, gaining praise from the Melody Maker, describing them as "'the
Young Marble Giantsjamming with Can". A John Peel session resulted and a
flutter of Radio 1 Evening plays too. By now the band were playing live - as
a four piece, with Gary on drums and Carys on keyboards.
'Cuckoo' was the band's last rdease for Ankst; by the end of the summer
'97 the band signed a recording deal with Pinnacle Labels, on the top
of Snowdon.
'Rumours & Curses' was recorded four hundred yards away from the
biggest military airstrip in Europe. In between dodging low flying aircraft
- piss off Biggles - the band honed their own brand of sinister, luscious electro
pop along with producer Gorwel Owen, whose previous credits include Super Furry
Animals and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci.
As with previous releases all lyrics are written by Paul and Andrea. Many of
the tracks are intensely emotional with often fiercely personal lyrics. Paul
says he takes his inspiration from the darker side of personal experiences and
attempts to write "about the side that people rarely admit they have"'. The
album walks the wire of pain and desire with little hope of love and understanding
in between.
Their new single release 'Lemming' is out on the 18th May and exhibits a taste
of Melys dark sensibilities with its mix of English and Welsh lyrics and irresistible
melodies.