The undefinable elder statesmen of British Indie Rock, the Mekons, are back with a celebration of traditional song. Incorrectly dubbed a Punk band throughout their history, Ancient & Modern is an intriguing mix of European Folk and Pub Rock. Without the edge the edge that one might expect from a Mekons record, it satisfies like a comfortable pair of shoes.
The Mekons - Ancient & Modern (2011) – 7.2 / 10.0
Release Date: Sept. 27, 2011
Running Time: 45:34
Label: Sin Record Label
Genre: Alternative Folk, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Pub Rock
Drug of Choice: Whiskey, Cigarettes, Mushrooms
Key Tracks:
"Space In Your Face"
"Ancient & Modern"
"Afar & Forlorn"
"Arthur's Angel"
The Mekons have released 26 albums over the last 35 years. To say that this band is only doing what interests them would be a massive understatement. Then again, that would also have been true of their first record. Like many bands debuting in the late 70s who were throwing off concepts of genre regulation (schoolmates Gang of Four included), the Mekons were swept up into the all-encompassing term 'Punk'. While today we have a fairly restrictive sonic aesthetic in place for Punk Rock, at that point the term was about as meaningful as 'Indie' is today. In truth, the Mekons were/are much more dismissive of genre identity than almost any of there contemporaries. At their heart, the band plays Pub Rock of the kind that was being popularized at the time by groups like Dr. Feelgood or Rockpile. The difference with the Mekons is that while they kept the dangerous raw edge of that Pub Rock sound, they would throw away a lot of the traditional Rock 'N Roll song structures for more modern New Wave, R&B, or even Country/American Roots influences. These things would all swirl together under a painfully idiosyncratic vocal from Tom Greenhalgh.
With their newest release, Ancient & Modern, the Mekons are engaging more in their folk tendencies and picking back up some of those Tin-Pan Alley tropes that they shrugged away at the beginning of their career. This is not the music of a band concerned with breaking new ground or defining the edge, but one who is comfortable playing their old favorites in a new way. Some critics have received this record poorly because of the shift away from harder-edged Punk affectations. I believe that to be a silly complaint. With Ancient & Modern, the Mekons give us a Modern Folk record that is more relevant (and a much easier listen) than anything Shane MacGowan could produce today. Greenhalgh's voice is much more haggard and forlorn than on those first Mekons records, settling nicely into the Folk tales he is set to weave here. Furthermore, this record is not without its occasional rocker. "Space In Your Face" and "Calling All Demons" find the band with just as much energy as ever. The folks balladry, however, is where the true strength of "Ancient & Modern" lies. The title track is downright moving in parts, though perhaps a bit meandering towards its end. "Afar & Forlorn" is beautiful, sporting probably my favorite vocal chorus from any Mekons record.
Ancient & Modern is not a perfect record by any stretch. Some tracks are perhaps too minimal to be truly memorable ("Geeshie", for example) and they do have a tendency to let these songs go on for a few seconds longer than necessary. That being said, the strengths far outweigh the weaknesses, making this a standout Mekons record and a standout record for 2011. I recommend this for anyone who needs a break from the huge cacophonies that make up most Indie releases these days. You could certainly do worse.
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Reviewer Stats:
Reviews - 24
Average Rating - 6.86
Highest Rating - 9.5 Blitzen Trapper's American Goldwing
Lowest Rating - 4.0 Her Space Holiday's Her Space Holiday
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