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In Review: The Mysterines - "Reeling"

 

Entering the scene on that tried and true UK hype and nabbing producer Catherine Marks (who's helmed albums for PJ Harvey, Wolf Alice and Manchester Orchestra among many others) for their debut, it feels like The Mysterines are emerging fully formed. Not that it's necessarily come quickly or easily; their first EP was released nearly three years ago, and bandleader Lia Metcalf has been writing songs since she was a child. Still, for most of us, Reeling is our first real exposure to the Liverpool group.

Press surrounding the release of Reeling name checks several influences, from The Strokes and Arcade Fire to the films of Alejandro Jodorowsky and Terrence Malick; personally, I don't really hear too much of that here except in conceptual influence. Rather, I hear a lot of nocturnal, gothic garage rock akin to bands like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (whose vibes show up all over this record), The Black Angels (The Bad Thing, complete with a tempo shift) and Queens of the Stone Age (like the Songs for the Deaf-like single Hung Up). Throw in a little '90s alt flair (such as on early singles In My Head and Dangerous), a dash of R.E.M. Americana (as heard on the laid-back On the Run) and even a hint of spaghetti western doom (Under Your Skin) and you get a good idea of where this record is going.

Overall, Reeling is an impressive debut, not a truly stellar record but certainly one that's solidly entertaining from pillar to post; as a blueprint for potential, all the boxes are checked. Going forward, I'm hoping The Mysterines can develop an artistic vision that's all theirs; Reeling wears its influences a little too liberally by times and, though it doesn't make for a less engaging listen, it does ultimately hold it back from being a truly special debut.

March 11, 2022 • Fiction
Highlights Hung Up • Dangerous • The Bad Thing

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