Live Review | Melin Melyn @ The Corn Exchange, Newport

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Ahead of the release of their debut album, Welsh 6-piece Melin Melyn bring their adorable and hilarious live show to Newport

From the dark, drizzly streets on Newport, I took shelter in The Corn Exchange, where I stumbled upon a sunny surprise. Suddenly, I found myself in Melin Village, a cosy community looked over by a yellow windmill on a hill. This is the setting of Welsh band Melin Melyn’s debut album ‘Mill On The Hill’ and, through their incredibly charming and joyous live set, we would all come to learn the true story behind the legendary windmill and the millers who struggle to keep it spinning!

Melin Melyn have been making their way around the festival circuit for the last couple of years, spreading their wonderfully bright, colourful and jangly 70s-inspired pop tunes. Their stage presence is unlike any other band and, through calming and hilarious children’s book-esque interludes and a tiny windmill (which actually spins!), we are brought along through the tale of the yellow windmill (‘melin melyn’ in Welsh) and the looming threat of the car park about to demolish it.

Basing your gigs around a narrative is a risky move; halfass it and nobody will care, only wanting you to play the next tune. But Melin Melyn are not ones to halfass it. Dressed in full miller attire, with each member wearing a nametag, they remained in character throughout the whole set, remaining completely deadpan while frontman Gruff Glyn hits us with his dry humour, speaks to the dummy on stage or breaks into shocking and incredibly impressive operatic voice for new song ‘Derek’.

As this proves, don’t let their theatrics distract you from just how talented this band are. Making their way through psychedelic, indie pop and even some proggier moments, Melin Melyn‘s sound is deceptively simple, performing their light and breezy songs with incredible tightness and capability. Guitar and key solos flow effortlessly while the addition of pedal steel is genius, adding a country twang to the party.

Singing (and speaking) in both English and Welsh sets the band apart from the crowd, with Glyn translating much of his speech into his home language. It is so lovely to see a band so proud of their heritage, with them even asking Welsh speakers and learners to come and chat with them at the merch stand afterwards.

While much of their set consisted of new tracks, including brilliant singles ‘Vitamin D’ and ‘Fantastic Food,’ they had plenty of time for some classics too: “By classics, we mean songs that came out two years ago” they clarify. ‘I Paint Dogs’ is a gloriously loving ode to our odd creative tendencies while ‘Hold The Line’ tells of the longing desperation of being kept on hold. The band’s storytelling is delightful and their lyrics fit comfortably alongside indie pop legends like Belle and Sebastian.

If you see the name Melin Melyn pop up in your city, do not miss the chance to go. You will be treated to a night of weird and wonderfully happy chaos and won’t be able to stop smiling for a long time after. Fuck the car park, long live the Mill On The Hill!

‘Mill On The Hill’ is out

Listen to ‘Fantastic Food’ here:

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