Sunbeam Rec.
Meic Stevens : Rain in the leaves : the EPs. Volume 1 (WA,1962)***°°
Welsh Meic Stevens toured a while in the British club circuit where he was discovered for a contract with Decca for a single in 1965 without many sales. This early single still sounded very much as if illuminated by early Bob Dylan or Wizz Jones, or even much earlier singers and songwriters. Feeling uncomfortable with his personal situation in the UK, he returned to Wales. In late 1966 there he succeeded to record some of the earlier songs now rewritten and sung in Welsh. This first EP, under the name of Mike Stevens, sold rather well. From these earliest tracks I like best “Ond Dof Yn Ôl” a track which will later reappear on his ‘Outlander’ album, and the sad “Tryweyrn” with a few strange instrumental effects. Encouraged by success all tracks to be recorded on his next EP were much more moody and relaxed, in a personal style that was already noticeable in the two previously mentioned songs. From then on this became some kind of standing stone standard. On these songs, the Welsh language /tongue seemed also to roll smoothly and rhythmically, almost like an extra instrument into and with the song evolution along with the acoustic guitar. “Hwiangerdd Mihangel” is a beautiful instrumental by guitar and melodic flute.
Late ‘60’s he started shuttling between Wales and the London scene. Despite some powerful demo’s it didn’t mean any other contract yet. (It was not until 1997 when Tenth planet published these brilliant 1968-169 demo’s as 'Ghost Town' as a limited LP of 1000). Backstage he met two teenagers, and together they set up a pop trio (Y Bara Menyn = Bread and Butter) meant as a parody to contemporary Welsh music, which turned out to be a success with some EP’s as result, which is of course a different story, so they’re not included here. The commission to write a pop opera led also to a single performing some of the songs alone by Meic, which was his next EP. From this session, “Myfi yw’r Dechreuad” with an eastern flavour with powerful acoustic guitar, is a song that reminds me of some songs on ‘Outlander’.
The last mini-LP which is added on the compilation were Welsh songs he did during the time he had received the deal to make Outlander. The label finally didn’t like ‘Outlander’ much, even though it’s a great piece of art. This led to Meic taking a distance from the major labels and encouraged him to focus on the Welsh scene only. Still in the ‘Outlander’ period, he recorded a Welsh LP with Heither Jones, but when that record deal went off, these recordings were split into two very limited EP’s. “Mae Gennyf I Gariad” on this EP, was most similar in style to the more progressive/psychedelic, driving and emotionally rich rocking tracks on Outlander. This tracks still is basically acoustic with some second, electric guitar. Also this EP is an interesting discovery which wasn’t reissued anywhere before.
A rather essential release of Meic Stevens complete with covers, liner notes, additional info and some comments by Meic Stevens himself.
Sunbeam Rec.Meic Stevens : Sackloth & Ashes : the EPs. Volume 2 (WA,1970-1971)**°'
When in 1970 Warner Bros had lost interest in Meic Stevens, he went back to Wales, and took a distance from major labels. There he build his own 16-track studio where he recorded 2 of the included EP’s, as well as one unreleased EP. Meic Stevens entirely focused on a Wales public and its culture. All songs were written and sung in Welsh now. Meic's style remains recognisable. With certain variations he had already shown before, there's no attempt to become anything different from this. By this time he had formed his own distinctive style and musical character. According to the liner notes, compared to what happened in Wales in those days, seemed to make him the most gifted talent, who had something inspired to offer, which explains the continuation of iterest by BBC Wales, who kept his interest in Meic Stevens, gave him various, mostly TV related, commissions, of which not much was saved or ever commercially recorded -(one small unreleased recording is added here-) . Even when I do do not understand a word of the songs from the songs on this release, the appreciated style, with a certain recognisability troughout the album, this compilation succeeds to continue to be an enjoyable listen.
