John Mouse - Ynys Parc Memorial 1854–1976 Review
John Mouse returns with ‘Ynys Parc Memorial 1854-1976’; a uniquely Welsh album that feels deeply personal and cathartic, allowing the places to become characters of their own.
“The Welsh John Mouse, not the American John Maus, or the reggae artist John Mouse or even the Children’s book character John Mouse, done by Roger Hargreaves”
John Mouse has had a lot of confusion over his name. But right from the start, it's clear that this is a uniquely Welsh record. 'I Am the Newport Office', track three, reminds listeners of his roots with some of his most reflective and honest work to date. It's an album shaped by the Welsh landscape and language, as well as the communities and characters that have witnessed his growth as both an artist and a person, mixing brand new songs with reworked old classics.
‘Dancing with my Neighbour’ feels as fresh as they come: an unreleased single given new life after fans kept asking where they could find it, even though its original title was ‘O'Sullivan, Reardon, Doherty, Bond’. This is an artist reflecting alongside his fanbase, resulting in an anthem about only being able to engage with your neighbour during lockdown. If you're just stuck with them, there is little more than that.
The album mixes new wave with art-pop rhythms for a club-ready beat. Mouse's absurd humour feels genuine, creating a strong sense of authenticity rooted in time and place. It's a distinctly Welsh record, mixing the humour of the language with reflections on Welsh identity. 'Welsh Words' imagines a fever dream in which Gruff Rhys appears as Joan Didion to offer songwriting advice. It's a novel concept, elevated by Mouse's excellent delivery. Opening with "the dog fell asleep on me", the track creates a dreamlike narrative as Didion tells Mouse to "write better songs".
Places and people are reflected upon here, not just name-dropped; for every mention of Swansea and Newport, there is a sense of meaning behind them. Artists writing about where they are from is not uncommon, but Mouse does so in a way that is deeply humorous and deeply his own. ‘Dancing with my Neighbour’ gives this sense of place a personal dimension, with the regional character of being Welsh in lockdown shining through.
There has been something of an explosion of Irish musical talent recently that hasn't happened to the same extent in Wales. Through artists like John Mouse, Super Furry Animals, Panic Shack, Adwaith and Casual Smart, though, you'd be wrong to think there isn't a thriving music scene there. Eight albums in, Mouse is one of its established names.
The passing of time and over-fifties football are reflected in the mortality of 20 Summers Left, adding depth and in-jokes that reward long-time fans. Mouse is also open about including live favourites that have yet to receive a full release, reinforcing the established lore of recurring characters, hopes and dreams. It feels like Mouse is able to use humour as a coping mechanism for the pandemic in a classically British way, tapping into a sense of belonging and memory that gives the album a distinctive sense of time and place. The landscapes of Wales become as much characters as the people Mouse brings to life on the album, with neighbours, failed relationships and grappling with mortality woven together in a way that feels like a statement without the false grandeur that albums of this nature often fall into. It's stripped back, authentic, real and honest. There is a kind of cinematic storytelling here, paired with a strong visual identity and a brutalist Welsh aesthetic.
It could have been easy to reduce Wales to a stereotype, but Mouse never does. Instead, places like Newport and Swansea feel alive and full of character. That authenticity has helped earn him his biggest Cardiff headline show to date at The Gate Theatre this October, alongside a UK headline tour and selected dates once again with Goldie Lookin Chain.