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El Misti are a folk/rock/blues band hailing from in and around Frodsham, Cheshire. They've been building up, which seems like an eternity, their self-titled debut album by releasing some well-received tracks and gathering a wealth of support via their socials. Unfortunately, due to the current climate across the world, their album launch gig with us couldn't go ahead. They enlisted help from many friends in creating this album and judging from how proud they are on their socials, this album seems like its a passion project rather then a placeholder to put them on the music scene. Here's our review of what's on offer:
The album starts on a sombre note with Take me to the Woods, which upon listening to the first few minutes alone gives of a feeling of a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song with front-man, Paddy Bleakely's well-sung vocals with extra backing vocals supporting him as he progresses through the track and a nice-sounding, smoothly-played piano solo, which sets the tone straight-away. As the song progresses, a country-sounding jangly guitar is included giving the song more of an edge. A great start to the album setting the tone and feel to the album well upon first listen.
Next up, a slower ballad-esque number, The Rose that Grew on the Moon. Again, the song has a Neil Young / Crosby Stills, Nash and Young sound to it, but sheened over with a modern feel and style. The band still manages to incorporate a nice guitar solo in the mix. Track leans hard on the message that love is the answer; love by that certain special someone who being around eases all of life's troubles, better then any medicine could ever do. An emotional song to say the least. The band showcase their ability to create that kind of song to tug on the ole heartstrings while strumming their guitar strings. Very nice indeed.
Woman let me be is the title of the next track from the album. This song takes a different side to love and love-lost showing that it isn't always plain-sailing and that sometimes you just want them out of your life - "woman let me be. You'll be the death of me". The song leaves us to guess why this woman is so bad, but that's the fun in it all. Some nicely-played guitar going through and to the end when it reaches a crescendo and a piano melody throughout gives the song a nice lilt that suits the song nicely. Paddy leans heavily on the heavy backing vocals throughout giving the impression others are singing about the same woes. Very clever.
Their next The Devil Won't Dance turns up the fuzzy guitar and mood to eleven. At at time of 6.48, its the longest on the albums so far. A gritty reverb-laden guitar introduces us to the track, which is reminiscent to the feel a Sergio Leone cowboy classic. Front-man Paddy's vocals shine through here as he is left to sing us through the verses with minimal instruments to back him up. He further impresses as the song moves into the chorus where he is backed up by raucous backing vocals seemingly straight from a ho-down. The minimal lead guitar lends itself beautifully to the moody vocals as it progresses through the verses but then takes it up a notch as the track progresses to the end for the first time in the album so far giving it some welly, which for me is honey for the ears.
The Rose that Poisoned the Ground from the start showcases more of a modern sounding style to the songs that preceded it. They've taken the fuzzy guitar and feel from the past songs, but added a modern sound to it. I've reviewed this track previously on it's own, but hearing it now as a part of the greater album to be listened to in order, it fits will with the dynamic. In my previous review I shared my thoughts on the track:
The track goes into the verse full of well-written words and a catchy guitar riff with organ accompaniment that lead us right into the catchy chorus where a nice backing vocal amps up the track to another level and then goes even further with expertly played guitar. The band then brings it all back to a personal level where its taken down to a haunted acoustic performance with a slight pink flloyd-esque reverb electric performance in the background. The band have excelled themselves with a track full of brooding, haunted lyrics, vocals and performance. All the elements come together nicely and you never stop to question whether anything doesn't fit. El Misti here have produced a track which is an amazing gritty atmospheric classic rock track on par with Pink Floyd, but with an overall performance on a level that would make David Gilmour cry.
Next up, No one Remembers a Loser. Essentially, it's a tale of despair and sorrow. The band here have taken the opportunity to have a say about what they consider is wrong with the world, and rightfully so. Disillusioned about many a thing about this day and age, the songs been well-written to target these, but still managing to make it sound great with a catchy chorus, nice-sounding piano and amazingly played guitar solos.
If I am the Sky gives us a tranquil, soothing intro following on from the sorrow and despair given to us in the past songs kind of like we've been through the hard times and are now in a better place. The sound of thunder and rainfall compliment the softly-plucked acoustic. Front-man Paddy sings us through the verses and chorus with what we've come to know as being a competent and and full of range singing style. An atmospheric violin lends it's sound to the song adding an otherworldly feel to the track. What I take from this song is what you'd do for that someone you love to help them if they are down or unhappy. It's a short number, the shortest of the album, but its a beautiful number, which doesn't need six minutes and manages to fit enough into the time given to make it a great addition to the album.
Next on the album is 1983. An upbeat, jaunty acoustic guitar greets us at the start of this song and comes across as rant about revolution and the state of the government and politics and how similar it is to how it was in and around 1983. The song gives of a feel of a late 60's protest about the government in the, in a similar vain and feel to a Bob Dylan song sending out a message for all to hear. The inclusion of a violin further adds to the protest-song vibe, which I love.
Kingdom. Another song with a message the bands wants to put across. A timeless sounding song through use of well-written lyrics, a softly-strummed acoustic, bongos, choir, trumpets and orchestra. Paddy leads us through the song as if singing a lullaby or as if singing a story of experience to a younger generation ala Cat Stevens's song Father & son. As the song progresses past the half-way mark the song builds up the atmosphere with the aforesaid trumpets and choir making giving the song an euphoric feel right up to the end of the song. It gave me goosebumps upon first listen and still does with every play and because of this it is one of my favourites from the album.
The album finishes on the track Take Back Control, the longest track on the album at a hefty 6.53 minutes. As with previous tracks the song starts off slow, but builds up to a great chorus which gives off a vibe of a sermon as Paddy belts out the vocals with a choir accompaniment. The song is another song shouting out about Revolution; a kind of wake up call to the masses to stand up against the government and their ideologies. The repeated vocals "Take back control" ensure the message is stuck in your head for a while after the songs finished. The light and shade of a soft sounding organ and piano and heavier guitar sound is used through the latter part of the song seemingly to thrust home the message and to leave an impact. A brilliant song to end on and as it fades out, you reflect on the songs as a whole.
Overall, the album is immense. Full of anthems telling stories of love, love lost and revolution. Singularly, the tracks put out by the band are great on their own, but as a album they speak a different story and become something greater and better. With the band having the use of their own recording studio and friends to help record the album the band have created something special, no doubt about it, but leaves me wondering how they will be able to perform the grandiose songs on stage at gigs. Only time will tell. Non-the-less the band should be proud with what they have produced; capturing that feeling of despair, love lost, hope and revolution in lyrics and performance influenced by bands and artists old and new.
Check out the album for yourself below and let us know what you think. Do you agree with our take on the songs? Which one is your favourite?
Follow El Misti on their socials to keep informed of all gigs, future releases and more below