Goodwill and Positive Karma shouldn’t just be for Christmas, it should be a gift that we give everyone all year round. Dorset musical collective Mischa & His Merry Men whose number has featured over 40 musicians in their time promotes wonderfully passionate ethics, aiming to bring back community spirit by encouraging musicians from around the UK to join them on stage and use music to come together. The promotion of good ethics through not only their lyrics and through their actions, but includes giving gifts at shows; they have active band members supporting various nature charities, re-planting trees and promoting their message conscientiously.
Running up towards the end of the year the band have generously released not one but two EP’s featuring a host of brand new tracks raising money for Extinction Rebellion, Increase the Peace and Silence of Suicide (SOS) charities. The EP’s were recorded over the course of two years featuring 14 of the “Merry Many” (as they’re also known), crossing over many of the band’s genres and marks a large step up for the band in terms of songwriting and production.
The first of these is the four track Stop Drop & Roll which features tracks that have become part of the band’s live set; focusing on topics about the environment, war and the selfishness of society. The title track is a positive injection of uplifting inspiration, with a host of eclectic sounds to enjoy. While “Pull Socks Up” is a kick-up-the-backside song doing its best to motivate, with its laid back classy Bossa Nova vibe featuring some quality brass accompaniment. Mischa’s lyrics are as always sung from the heart and pack a proverbial punch with its simple message of peace and harmony for all. Things get a complete turnaround on “Wastelands” with its Summery Reggae vibes, featuring fantastic, infectious and atmospheric percussion, keys and remarkably impressive brass work.
The final track “Help A Brother Out” is another simple message about selfishness, if only we could all stop just thinking of ourselves and help out those in need around us, the world would be a much better place. The emotionally charged track is uniquely creative and has many strikingly put together twists and turns.
Track Listing
Stop, Drop & Roll
Pull Your Socks Up
Wastelands
Help a Brother Out
Players
Mischa Weston-Green – Acoustic Guitar & Vocals
Ben Jones – Bass & Backing Vocals
Steve Russell – Keyboards
Duncan Petrus – Electric Guitar
Alicia Imi Garcia – Violin
Harry Bassett – Trumpet
Krzysztof Szablicki – Trumpet
Eleanor Pasco – Saxophone & Backing Vocals
Jamie Smith – Drums (tracks 1 & 2)
Robin Francis – Drums (tracks 3 & 4)
Kitty Stewart – Backing Vocals (track 4)
The 2nd EP Pain De Weston is a six track affair featuring a host of different styles and genres, with a theme of exploring many angles of mental health. The EP was produced partly by local superstar Chris Payn at West Barrow Cottage and Chris’s Father Matt Black at Hangover Hill Studios. The EP with the title is a shout out to him as well as a play on words of the mental health anguishes of the songwriter, Mischa Weston-Green – “Pain Of Weston”. It’s hard to even think that someone as outwardly happy and positive as Mischa even has mental health anguishes. It’s a very serious issue for many and if it’s allowed to manifest without support the very worst can happen.
The EP was written between 2018 and 2020; with the events industry going into hibernation through the pandemic, it was the perfect time to get these songs recorded. Mischa explains “this release means so much to me, not only due to the lyrical content but also the music. Unlike other Merry releases, where the collective input their magical twists and turns; due to the pandemic restrictions, I had complete freedom on what I wanted it to sound like and with the help of the Chris Payn producing it, he realised my vision exactly.”
The EP’s opening track “The Medicine” shows a different Rockier side to the band with plenty of gang harmonies to get the message across clearly. The lyrics of the tune clearly and loudly speaks for itself. ‘Hits for the Kids’ is about the music industry and the pressure to release hits even if they don’t have a powerful message. Mischa says “the song as a whole is about my disillusionment with Western society; how we take this “heavenly bliss” for granted and how in part, due to “Hits for the Kids” we’ve lost touch with what is sacred about our spiritual existence to the point where even me stating this, casts me out as a “crazy” person who’s lost the plot (see end of the song)”.
“Let It Out” starts with a nifty bassline section before the lyrics kick in, with an observational message to a loved one. The track, despite its dark subject matter has many uplifting parts with the Merry Men creating the magic with some especially sweet melodies. “Sick To Death” shows a different side to this band altogether, if I heard this without knowing I’d have thought this was another band altogether. The band practically have the ability to transform with many musical options, with a host of capabilities. “Wish You” has some delectable strings running through the length of the tune, along with some meandering guitar; infectious rhythms and some sporadic brass. Another darker song with a subject matter about the falling out with someone close and even though you’ll miss them, being apart appears to be the best option.
The EP ends with Mischa declaring his undying love for his life partner. “Rainbow Unicorn Mermaid Heart” is not just a song; it’s a feeling, that feeling that most of us have felt when you fall in love and you want to shout if from the rooftops. Mischa wraps these feelings all up in a song and the “Merry Many” backing these passionate lyrics with some wondrous keys, strings and trumpet to give the track glorious shouting from the rooftops feel.
The artwork of both EP’s was cleverly put together by the wonderfully talented by Eleanor Pasco. The Stop Drop & Roll cover depicts three of the world’s troubles experienced between 2020 and 2021. The Pain De Weston took specific concept from Mischa with some hidden Easter Eggs; including being constructed using the sacred geometry of the vesica pisces, which has multiple meanings in the context of this release and its author.
Track Listing
The Medicine
Hits for the Kids
Let it Out
Sick to Death
Wish You
Rainbow Unicorn Mermaid Heart
Written by Mischa Weston-Green
Produced by Chris Payn
Recorded by Chris Payn at Hangover Hill & The Ranch Production House
Mastered by Ed Woods
Mischa Weston-Green – Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitar & Vocals
Chris Payn – Keyboards, Electric Guitars, Bass & Backing Vocals
Roland Palmer – Cello
Alicia Imi Garcia – Violin
Harry Bassett – Trumpet
Krzysztof Szablicki – Trumpet
Eleanor Pasco – Saxophone
Andy L Smooth – Drums
Both EP’s are out now and can be found on all streaming platforms if you wish to donate to the band’s chosen charities you can find the links here.
Links
https://mischaandhismerrymen.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/MischasMerryMen
https://www.mischaandhismerrymen.co.uk
Words by David Chinery
