Review
The MES
Evil Echo and Deaf Mind-

Independent (2024) Christopher D

The MES – Evil Echo and Deaf Mind- cover artwork
The MES – Evil Echo and Deaf Mind- — Independent, 2024

Divine intervention from Finland weaving this ripsnorter straight up the nasal cavity producing flashing lights and heightened endorphin production ……. oh, the downside -repetition is essential for pure unadulterated drops of artificial sweetener-sucralose to take full effect (sure beats saccharin).
So, some old geezer like myself is under no illusion that he knows all about music but this ain't my first rodeo-yee haw.

Finnish Rautalanka had never crossed my ever-failing sensors and I can thank The Mes for the introduction to which they attribute the term- New Wave of Finnish Rautalanka (think The Shadows-who played Finland several times and The Ventures who were also well-loved by The Finnish! however, these two bands alone spawned many bands in Finland such as The Sounds(not the Adrian Borland band with the same name)

The Mes can navigate the stormy waters of the current climate of a world of a trillion bands and lean on the past all the while producing output that sounds fresh and vintage within the same hand-rolled joint. Take a puff.

At times they have a garage element not unlike early Hives, blended with one of my favourites and not often spoken about enough Dan Sartain. All the while giving us the chance to ride the crest down the aquatic skating rink, through the Banzai Pipe. The hip "Hypno Preacher" is amongst us, living, breathing, beckoning with his outstretched bony-clicking fingers for you to join him on the world's deadliest crest.
Finland has 60 rideable surfing days a year for all those in doubt- so get those boards waxed up. Vahaa laudallasi ja aja kuolemaan!
Hoping The Mes can surf their way into your blackened heart ( no they will not eat your pets) and land on North American soil and over the physical and perceived walls.

I goad you to stop spending money on retirement, nostalgia pantomime acts of fisticuffed elders and throw some crisp banknotes to new bands producing exciting helter-skelter.
Fresh Sauna music for those who don’t want to relax -jump into the cold pool and explore. Your 60's Stranglers-filled sensibilities and frozen gonads will thank you profusely.

The MES – Evil Echo and Deaf Mind- cover artwork
The MES – Evil Echo and Deaf Mind- — Independent, 2024

Related news

Joe Strummer's & The Mescaleros box set

Posted in Records on July 31, 2022

Advertisement

DCxPC 2025

Recently-posted album reviews

Chat Pile

Cool World
Flenser (2024)

The great American experiment has a wide range of experiences, but it tends to focus on the coasts. There are countless dystopian pieces of art, often culling from a Warriors-esque concept of urban grit. Chat Pile play dystopian, brutal noise-punk, but from a distinctly middle American point of view where instead of civilians shadowed under dense skylines, their anonymity instead … Read more

The Anomalys

Down The Hole
Slovenly (2024)

If I have to give the elevator pitch, I’ll call The Anomalys garage rock with an ear for surf and psyche rock -- turned up to 11 and blasted through blown out speakers in an old 1980s sedan. It’s high-energy, no-frills rock ‘n’ roll with attitude. While it’s short, loud and fast, there’s also quite a bit of nuance and … Read more

Pinhead Gunpowder

Unt
1-2-3-4 Go! Records (2024)

Pinhead Gunpowder began in 1990, recording a 7” in 1991. The band last released a 7” in 2008… Until late 2024 when the band returned with the 14-song full-length Unt. So congratulations if you had “we get a new Pinhead Gunpowder record before a new D4 record on your bingo card. (These two bands released a split 7” in 2000 … Read more