No. Mich

The album cover is incredibly funny and subtle of course, considering the album is called No. Mich returns to these pages with its new album. On its eponymous debut album I wrote that the band obviously takes its music very seriously but could not be called revolutionary in any way.

This conclusion does not have to be changed in any way. So, that's out of the way. On No Mich explores 80s indie pop and rock some more. Besides the U.K. bands Mich has incorporated some R.E.M. in its music as well. Combining Robert Smith's guitar sound of 'A Forest' with early R.E.M. structure of a song, presents the world with the optimistically titled 'I'm Dead'. "Forget about me" seems to be the main message. Well, if this is your wish Mich, then I'd advise to stop writing songs like this. 'I'm Dead' is extremely hard to shake of once heard, if not an impossibility.

Mich excels in the tight way 80s bands played. Tight rhythms and a minimum of variation, showing a bleak, dark, depressed world moving towards and in great fear of the abyss. There simply wasn't any fun allowed at the time. In my mind's eye I can still see "the bats", shoegazing, with Robert Smith combed back in hair and all, huddling together until finally a The Cure song was played by the DJ.

This is also where the comparisons stop. Mich may try to be bleak, it isn't really. The band has taken a style of music from the bandmembers' youth and started working from there. The vocal melodies are often too good to remain bleak and the sounds of the guitars are a touch lighter it seems, reflecting the ray of sunlight allowed into the room.

A minor detail of change is that Sofie Winterson is now a full time member of Mich, still more a project than a real band. Together with Piet Parra, Bastiaan Bosma, Rimer London and Mick Johan she makes up Mich. You can hear her sing lead in a few songs as well. A nice addition to the band in my opinion.

My overall impression is that No is a better album than 'Mich'. Having played more together gave the band more cohesion and depth. As far as I'm concerned I'm listening to an album that invites more listening sessions. Far more than the originals, Mich's music refers to, do in 2020. Hearing 'A Forest' on the radio every once in a while is enough for me, though always a feast. 'Stopsigns'' brightly bubbling sound is something I need to get to know a lot better and this goes for more songs on No.

Wo.

You can order No here:

https://shop.excelsior-recordings.com/products/mich-no


or listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:

https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g