Y Nos - Neon Yn Y Nen' (Review)

While they say never judge a book (or album) by its cover, Welsh synth-pop quintet Y Nos have planted their flag firmly in the 1980s with their debut album ‘Neon yn y Nen’ (‘Neon in the Sky’) as it sounds almost exactly as you would expect it to based on the cover artwork. With various retro synths, swathes of reverb, gated drums and electric dreams, you would almost expect to find this album was the soundtrack to a long forgotten 80s movie or TV show…

Escape From New Tredegar?

The Lost Boyos?

Mae mamgu Vice?

Recorded and produced by the band over the course of eighteen months, and with some strong radio play already under their belts for lead single ‘Troi’ (which was mixed and mastered by the brilliant Mei Gwynedd) they are clearly grabbing the attention of the Welsh music scene already, and rightly so.

The songwriting and arrangements are solid with a number of really catchy tracks, especially within the first half of the album. While there is a danger with some synth based acts to stick to a tried and tested formula, at no point do the songs on this album ever feel like the band are repeating themselves with enough going on to make each track interesting and unique, while still maintaining a cohesive thread that ties the majority of the album together.

Interestingly, it’s the band’s focus track, ‘Enfys Bell’ that is the one song that stands out and apart from the others, not because it’s better or worse than the rest of the album but because it’s the only cover on the album, originally written and recorded by popular Welsh band VANTA, who came third in the annual Cân i Gymru competition with it in 2005. While VANTA have now disbanded, with lead singer/guitarist Mei Emrys going on to have a successful solo career it’s a great song to cover and an equally great version that Y Nos have produced.

Overall it’s a really enjoyable album that will certainly light up the night’s sky with a beautiful neon 80s synth-pop glow.

‘Neon yn y Nen’ (‘Neon in the Sky’)the 11 track debut album from Welsh synth-pop quintet Y Nos, is now available to buy/stream via Bandcamp, and on all major platforms.