Reviews
Artist:Mishra Album: Reclaim
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: https://mishramusic.bandcamp.com/album/reclaim
Mishra are a global collective, strongly rooted in UK folk, but weaving in elements of American Bluegrass, Indian Classical Music and Jazz. Formed in 2017, the original duo of Kate Griffin and Ford Collier, blended the rich traditional Folk of The Magpies with the ethereal eclecticism of The Drystones. In 2019 the duo released the wonderful The Loft Tapes, with the addition of percussionist John Ball from Rafiki Jazz, double bass player Joss Mann-Hazel and singer clarinet player Alex Lyon, the follow up, Reclaim is a joyful musical affirmation of our interconnectedness through music.
"Truth", inspired by the Philip Pulman His Dark Materials series of books is a muscular romp of a song. Powerful percussion pounds, Ford Collier's whistle ducks and dives between Celtic and Indian dance while Kate Griffin's vocal glides over the top like a siren. "This The Sound" is simply stunning a real stop and listen track. The languid song sits between Bluegrass and a contemplative English folk and Kate and Alex Lyon's vocals and harmonies are simply to die for. Around Ford's poetic lyrics shimmer Santoor, percussion, whistles and Danny Thompson like Double Bass accents. "Reel To Reel" continues the blending with breath taking call and response between Kate's banjo, John Ball's tabla and the whistle. "Rolling English Road" sets GK Chesterton's poem to a sinuous, smoky almost seductive beat with a suitably charged vocal from Kate. "Second Line" is another affirming dance that overflows with life and never sits still. Within one track Mishra deliver a Capella folk over complex rhythms, a very Indian vocal and Clarinet melody and an ear worm chorus.
If "This The Sound" and "New Air" is the reflective core of the album, blending jazz and folk "Second Line" is the edited highlights of a brilliant outdoor summer festival. "Rise" is an aptly named track as it's playing and rhythm pulls you Lazarus like out of the chair. Inspired by a Raag there is mysticism and power in the vocals and the beat. The band stretches out a little in the middle and it's 1986 and I'm listening to Zakir Hussain's seminal Making Music ECM fusion album. "Swell" is still perfect fusion as Mishra splice perfectly a languid "Satisfied Mind" like tune and feel, complete with dobro, Alex's perfect clarinet and hypnotic vocals. The biggest and best surprise is the spoken piece, written by Ben Allen and delivered by Ford. Another captivating highlight, but the album is shot through with perfect moments, surprised and highlights. "I Will Never Marry" is a North American traditional song, that skips and dances over banjo, santoor and tabla. The arrangement is thoughtful and sympathetic with space for those glorious vocal harmonies to shine through. "Reclaim" is a second instrumental, a claw hammer banjo tune by Kate, loosely inspired by a Raag, there is a wonderful swaying looseness to the music and again the arrangement gives opportunity for the individual instruments to really shine.
"Burn", a song about taking a chance, is a huge sounding anthem, with that celebratory feel that reminded me of Sheffield's wonderful Rafiki Jazz. Mishra share a lot of that sense of joyful exploration and blending music, I guess it's no surprise that John Ball plays with both bands. The hidden track "Burn Jam" demonstrates that the song lasts forever and the fun carries on after the faders have closed. The jam version is, even funkier and more vital than its listed brother, with the laughter in the middle adding to the atmosphere and feel of it being real.
This is a simply stunning album that fleshes out and delivers on the promise that was The Loft Tapes. There is musical muscle and oomph where there was sparkle. For some the idea of fusion or the meeting of music is as appealing as Heston Blumenthal's Snail Porridge, but Mishra demonstrate, if anyone needs to, that there can be a power and a strength when things meet. Alive to the possibilities in exploration and experimentation, GK Chesterton said "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen". Mishra are the musical proof of this.
Marc Higgins
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