Despite this being their fourth studio album, numerous sessions for John Peel and topping the festive 50 in 2001, Welsh band Melys are still relative unknowns. Sadly this album is not going to change matters.

The band, generally described as bittersweet pop, have now ditched the sequencers for proper instruments. This introduces some riffs even a seasoned rocker would be ashamed of and they still rely too heavily on the stunning vocals of Andrea Parker to get them out of the albums dodgy and “filler track” moments.

Much of this albums sounds like anthems by numbers – a serious stab at stadium rock if you will, and this is demonstrated on tracks such as “You Wannit Deep” and “(It’s All Been) Said and Done" which in all honesty are a strain to listen to.

Recent single “Eyeliner” introduces some much need poppiness but it’s the slow, moody tracks where Parker’s vocals demonstrate their absolute beauty that the band shines. “Difywyd”, “Y dwr yn y mor” (sorry no Welsh characters on my keyboard) and the stunning Saint Etienne like “Treading Water” has me wishing and wondering why this album was not a masterpiece instead of the mish-mash it actually is.

If you look closely you will find the albums best track hidden away as a bonus track. “Chinese Whispers”, the festive 50 number one mentioned earlier, is a belter but the fact it is almost four years old just demonstrates the little progress Melys have made. One for the fans...

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