More about: Melody's-Echo-Chamber

Almost seven years have passed since Melody’s Echo Chamber’s last live appearance, at Coachella Festival in 2016. Melody was forced to cancel her 2017 tour following a serious accident, and the incredible ‘Bon Voyage’ was released in 2018 without a tour to follow. 

Melody has also welcomed two children to the world since that last Coachella show and acknowledged in an interview last year that she did not know if she could ever envisage playing live again. Given how drastically the world has fallen apart in those seven years, it would have been quite understandable for Melody to stay at her residence by the French Alps and wave goodbye to touring altogether. However, the opportunity to return to the UK and make an appearance at Kings Cross’ iconic Scala proved itself too alluring to resist.

As someone who found themselves entrenched in the incredible melodies of ‘Bon Voyage’ for the best part of a year, this may possibly ne the only opportunity to ever see some of those incredible songs in the flesh; an occasion there was no chance I, and Melody’s legion of fans, could afford to miss. 

London tried it’s absolute hardest to sour the mood in the build-up to the show, with tube strikes and rainfall aplenty. Any sour emotions were immediately washed down the drain upon entering Scala; the ex-cinema has stood through two world wars, and its character and charm stands the test of time in an ever-changing Kings Cross.

The atmosphere was set from the off, with a pitch-perfect support set from Bug Teeth. Melody’s broad appeal was instantly noticed, with a wide age demographic amongst the crowd – from a group of teenage boys to solo fifty-somethings.

Melody was joined on stage by her newly arranged band, featuring three members of influential Swedish Psych-Rock unit Dungen. With the sold-out venue packed but somewhat relaxed Melody immediately seduced the crowd, opening with ‘Endless Shore’ from self-titled debut album. You would have had no idea that this was only the group’s second performance together as a band, an indication of just how talented a set of musicians we were graced with. 

The setlist took the crowd on a 90-minute journey through the changing styles and tones of Melody’s four albums, with the angelic resonances of her vocals keeping the whole thing structured throughout - only pausing to allow the spaced-out fuzz tones of guitarist Reine Fiske and incredible drumming of Gustav Ejstes to ramp up a notch on occasion. 

The extended 4-minute jam during ‘Crystalised’ was a particular highlight of the night, certainly solidifying itself as a crowd favourite. An infinitely looping bassline provided the groundwork for Reine to noodle his way through, raising and dropping the energy throughout the room at his will. 

‘Shirim’, ‘Unfold’ and ‘I Follow You’ were other personal highlights from a blistering 18-song setlist filled with variety. Perhaps my only disappointment on the night was not hearing the amazing ‘Desert Horse’ in the flesh, however with only five days to rehearse perhaps it was for the best not to include arguably the most production heavy track of all four albums on the setlist.  

There was a warm, fuzzy feeling in the crowd as well as in the music; perhaps everyone was making sure to drain every last drop of enjoyment from the show before confronting the reality of the rain still battering at the windows. 

This momentous show – her first in London in eight years - proved that Melody’s Echo Chamber still has the appeal and charm to captivate a room full of admirers. Not many artists can pack out one of London’s most historical venues on a strike day and have the crowd chanting for an encore. Hopefully this warm welcome back to the UK will encourage another string of shows in the not-too-distant future; a voice so delicate and otherworldly really has to be witnessed in the flesh to be truly appreciated.  

See the view from the pit, captured by Helena Coma:

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More about: Melody's-Echo-Chamber