The Glasgow PodcART

You may know her as a member of classical, all-female ensemble, The Mediæval Bæbes, but Melpomeni has now chosen to focus on her solo career by releasing her debut album ‘8 Tragedies, 2 Love Songs and a Breakdown’.

With its gentle and soothing piano melody, the line ‘I Want Him Dead’ opens the album and lulls the listener into a false sense of security. The opening lyrics continue to set the tone for the rest of the album: ‘Once upon a time, when everything was fine, his demon’s overtook him and he crossed the line’. As soon as Melpomeni utters that first line, you hang on her every word. The story progresses through sinister yet enchanting vocals with the lyrics letting the listener know they are about to encounter something very different. When the song draws to a close, the vocals soar to new heights as spontaneous dischords are thrashed out on the piano before the song comes to an abrupt end.

This was far from what I expected. Think a female Nick Cave crossed with Tori Amos and you’ll be on the right track. After an enigmatic opening track, the album bursts into life with ‘I Need a Man’. This is pop at its dirtiest, despite the exclusion of guitars from any of the recordings.

Another notable track on the album, ‘Dreaming’, is perhaps the most effective. From the moment the piano begins, the subtle sound effects along with the spellbinding vocals create a dreamlike state as Melpomeni works her way into your head and starts to haunt you from the inside. It’s as though her ghostly spirit is searching for you. The drums begin to pound and the vocals rise uncontrollably as the song fades out and she disappears.

At 1:36, ‘Juniper’ is the shortest song on the album. It begins with, what can only be compared to a wailing phantasm, before gradually building tension with an unnerving vocal performance to leave you almost fearful. Conversely, ‘Let There Be Light’ is where it begins to fall down for me. On its own, ‘Let There Be Light’ is a well constructed pop song. It follows a traditional verse/chorus/verse pattern with some nice harmonies, but it just doesn’t feel right. After building tension with melodramatic and captivating songs that grab the listener by the scruff of the neck, forcing you to listen to weird yet wonderful stories told through some stunning compositions and ambiguous lyrics, this track completely misses the mark. I started to lose the image of a ruthless Ice Queen, no longer fearful and intimidating, just another pop singer.

Thankfully, whilst still in a state of confusion, Melpomeni hit back with ‘I’m On Fire’ and all was restored. Here, Melpomeni gets the mix between optimistic pop and dark theatrics spot on. As the song progresses, it builds to a dramatic ending giving the impression that she is growing in strength with the lyrics. Her stunning vocals envelop the listener, creating a level of intimacy so strong that you would be forgiven for thinking she was crawling all over your body, invading every inch of your personal space.

In 2010, amidst all the generic bullshit, is an artist who is truly unique. An artist who incorporates the melodramatic elements of theatre with her lyrical prowess and creates beautiful compositions. Each track filled my head with vivid imagery to create a chilling but thrilling experience that is sure to stay with me for some time. This was a wonderfully refreshing listen and one hell of an experience.

Wesley Shearer

For more information on Melpomeni including album purchase please visit: HERE!

‘8 Tragedies, 2 Love Songs And A Breakdown’ is released 26th July 2010.