When I set up my Marshman blog last year, one of the things that I said that I would use it for was to draw to people's attention music that I felt had been unjustly overlooked. In my humble opinion, music doesn't come more unjustly overlooked than that of The Miracle Mile. I'm sure that the the reaction of people to that sentence is WHO? This proves my statement that they are overlooked to be correct at least, we'll come to the "unjustly" part in a moment. But bear in mind that no one likes injustice!
Miracle Mile are Trevor Jones and Marcus Cliffe. They started making albums in 1997. Their latest album, In Cassidy's Care, is their 8th, plus there's a compilation "Coffee and Star"s and Trevor Jones has done two magnificent solo records. Them's the facts. Here's the opinions. In my view these records form the most consistently excellent body of work (hem, hem) of any artist in the last 16 years.
Pause for BIG statement to sink in. And for those that know me to pour themselves a stiff drink to help them recover from the fact that I have been so positive, as I tend to better know for railing against musical drivel!
So you may ask, what do they sound like. these Miracle Mile people? Well without wishing to ask for a hearty slap, they sound first and foremost like the Miracle Mile. They really do have a sound of their own (This isn't as facetious as it sounds, honest, lots of artists sound distinctly like someone else: The first two Vampire Weekend albums (fine as they are) were deadringers for Paul Simon's Graceland and Stevie Wonder didn't need to make an album after 1993 because Jamiroquai made them for him). But, if you need reference points, from a musical perspective early on you could hear echoes of Crowded House and then as time passed, Steve McQueen era Prefab Sprout and possibly a soupcon of Grant McLennan's stuff both with the Go Betweens and solo.
Without heading off down the road called "Musical Cliche Avenue" then, we are in the land of richly melodic songs, wonderful evocative tunes, music with a real emotional pull. This isn't background music, boys and girls because this draws you into the world it creates. DO NOT listen to this while driving, for example, because the central reservation would beckon!
And it's not just the music that pulls you in but the lyrics as well. Trevor Jones is a truly gifted lyricist who writes songs about everyday emotions and the things that effect us all. Now that may sound like faint praise but think about how many lyricists do that, and use words that you can understand to do it with as well. I mean I liked Elvis Costello (Well, before he grew a beard and embarked on his ill advised sojourn into other musical genres such as Classical, Opera and Torch Songs, shudder) but when all the music critics said he was the greatest lyricist of his generation, I had to disagree. Most of his stuff sounded incredibly clever but what does it actually MEAN? No such problems here, try this on for size, from the new album
"I thought I was a dragon slayer but the years they just drip you dry. Now I'm just a bit part player, saying "I love you, goodbye."" If that doesn't move you, check your pulse, you may have clinically expired!
I fully appreciate that there is no such thing as good music or bad music, it is all a matter of taste but I am at a loss as to why this incredibly talented and consistent band has not had more success. And frankly this needs to change RIGHT NOW with the release of this, their new album, "In Cassidy's Care". To my mind this has been a very strong year so far for albums, with great records from Merry Hell, Noah and The Whale, Phil Odgers, Dropkick Murphys, The National, Kacey Musgraves and the Duckworth Lewis Method to name but a few but this is right up there with them.
Although the official release date is 22nd July, I was very fortunate to get my hands on an early copy back in April so have lived with it for three months and we have got to know each other well. "In Cassidys Care" is basically a concept album (No, wait! Come Back! We're not in 70s Prog Rock territory here) with the 12 songs telling the story of a man named Cassidy (Surprisingly), the break up of hiss relationship, the impact that that has on his family and how he comes to terms with that and moves to a more optimistic place.
At which I fully appreciate that you may go "Sod that for a laugh, sounds heavier going that wading through tar with a baby rhino on my back. I'll stick to Bastille, thank you". Let me stress then, that whilst this is undoubtedly a thought provoking and emotional record, it is a long way from depressing. Reach for a cheeky glass of red whilst listening to this by all means but there's no need to hide sharp implements. Anyone familiar with the works of Richard Hawley will know that there is a thin line between sad and beautiful (Lady's Bridge) and bloody depressing (True Loves Gutter). As implied earlier, you are in the hands of a master with Trevor Jones and we are definitely in beautiful territory here. Rest assured of that.
Appreciating that most people who read this will never have heard a Miracle Mile record before, it's probably pointless to say how I think it compares to their previous records but, hey, I'm a cheeky so and so so I will anyway. I'm actually going to go out on a limb and say that I think it's their best. If their past records had a fault (and seriously we're in nit picking country), it's that they've been slightly overlong. At 12 songs of a decent length, that issue doesn't apply here. And whilst great albums don't need overarching (Steady..) stories (Out of Control by Girls Aloud didn't have one, nor did London Calling) it works here.
Along with it's melodic strength, emotional punch and lyrical beauty (Do you need anything else? You are greedy!), this album has two other great strengths: Firstly it is superbly played and produced. I am not a musician by any stretch of anyone's imagination but I am always struck by how well Miracle Mile albums are put together and how clear everything sounds. In this area, they remind me of the Blue Nile (A band of whom Trev is a huge admirer).
Secondly this is a very consistent album. Actually this has been a feature of many of this years strongest records but usually it's a rarity. Normally when downloading an album, you give a couple of tracks a miss, or if you're an old git like me, you reach for the skip button on the the stereo, knocking over the Ale bottles in the process. Not a problem here. In fact it's almost unfair for me to single out any tracks for special attention but there is one track that even in such august company, does stand out because it is a staggeringly beautiful song and the best song that I have heard this year. Track 8 (Well done lads, never open with your best song, otherwise it's all downhill from there!) "Any Human Heart". It's worth the admission alone!
There's so much more I could say about this marvellous record but I would end up sounding like a dribbling goon. The fact is that there is an injustice here. This wonderful band have had their work consistently ignored by the British public for the last 15 years. This album is in grave danger of following it's predecessors into the dark abyss. DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN. If you have a spare tenner in your pocket, don't spend it on beer, don't buy sweets for the kids (think of their teeth) and certainly don't spend it on Bastille. Instead do yourself a favor and do your ears a favour and go to www.miraclemile.co.uk and bag a copy of In Cassidy's Care. Listen to it and then buy all their other albums. No one likes injustice, do they?
