► Meilir - Bydd Wych EP Review

Meilir - Bydd Wych EP

28 year-old Cardiff-based musician Meilir Tomos utilises years of musical experience, combining it with an innovative mix of unusual props and instruments to create his experimental take on folk music. Meilir draws inspiration from a range of influences, evidently drawing inspiration from acts such as Radiohead and Neil Young, to less obvious motivational factors from climbing trees as a child to a large collection of owl ornaments.

The 6-track mini-album/EP (still to be decided by the man himself) demonstrates Meilir’s ability to construct songs of minimalist nature as well as those with layers of instrumentation and noise, something also witnessed at the North-Wales born musician’s live shows, with or without full band (including whistling glasses of water) for support.

Bydd Wych begins with the song from which it is named, with the listener thrown straight in to the heart of Meilir’s unique sound; making efficient use of unusual instrumentation, electro-beats, and Welsh-spoken, unusual, yet intriguing and somewhat alluring, vocals. The EP, however, also demonstrates Meilir’s ability to create considerably more radio-friendly (not that this is how it is intended) music, with second song, ‘Misshaped’, a markedly less complex, yet equally as (if not more) endearing, experience. Pleading opening line “Mother, come and hold me” prepares the listener up for the significantly more emotional journey that is to follow, and it doesn’t disappoint.

And the Bydd Wych EP seems exactly that. A journey. A somewhat brief yet in-depth guided tour; allowing the listener to gain an insight into the absorbing life of Meilir; with a wave of intense ups and downs amidst unreserved, unforced uniqueness. Meilir is definitely a character, and this comes across clearly in this very good piece of work.

Bydd Wych can be found in Spiller’s Records, or online either from MySpace or from Spiller’s website.

by Jake May