Mitchell constructs warm and foundational melodies, developing them into shimmering works of electronic sound. In a medium that can sometimes alienate, Mitchell invites, involves and engages with a sensitivity to the organic development of the ambient sound.
On the heels of John Heckle’s excellent Visions comes another from Tabernacle Records. Seeming to have given up sleep, the frenetically productive Tabernacle has decided to explore a new sound for their latest, and a new artist incarnation. Scotland’s Paul Mitchell, aka Meschi, has been releasing house since debuting on Lunar Disco Records in 2011. The London based Meschi has focused on the sounds Chicago, flexing his 707 with deepness and acid twinges as Jackee. But for this latest, An Expedition the nom de plumes are side-lined.
A gentle rain of key taps introduces “Exped. One” Whimsy blends with lightness as electronica twins with ambient tones for a shifting, cascading piece of machine music. “Exped. Two” sees Mitchell weave a subtle pattern dissolve into clips before unleashing a dawning orb of ambience ascends. The flip opens with the superb “Exped. Six”. The track takes its cue from the soundtrack sounds of Tangerine Dream. Floating melodies rise and fall, blending and dispersing from clouds of harmony into a fog of wavering drone. To close the Scot leaves this plain in a whirling softness as the listener is transported into a vacuum of flowing and tumbling sonorous sheets.
Mitchell’s thisisourhouse.org site tells of the artist’s recent decision to sell his 707 drum machine, one of the core ingredients of house. Whether this spells a definite sound shift for the Glaswegian is yet to be confirmed. This latest shows the London based artist’s potential when rigid structures are removed, leaving the stringency of the sonnet for free verse. Mitchell constructs warm and foundational melodies, developing them into shimmering works of electronic sound. In a medium that can sometimes alienate, Mitchell invites, involves and engages with a sensitivity to the organic development of the ambient sound.
An Expedition is available on Tabernacle.
