Blackheart Orchestra’s – “Mesmeranto” | Progressive Rock Central.com

Blackheart Orchestra’s Mesmeranto

One of the best bands I learned about this year has been the Blackheart Orchestra. Although Mesmeranto, was released late last year, on October 11, 2019; its music is a welcome relief to the continuing pandemic and fewer albums being released.

Mesmeranto, is their third album after 2017’s debut Diving for Roses, and Songs from a Satellite. The Blackheart Orchestra are a British singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist duo, comprising long term collaborators, Chrissy Mostyn and Richard Pilkington.

“The pair create a mountain-like wall of sound using ancient synthesizers, electronic drums, acoustic, electric and bowed guitars and bass to create vast energetic symphonic climaxes”. Yes, indeed. It’s like hearing Kate Bush, with a full orchestra and Hans Zimmer accompanying on keyboards.

“Ennikur”, opens with Chrissy singing gossamer vocals behind orchestration and synths; before beautiful, soft piano takes control. Chrissy sings, “Over the horizon. Out of view. A melody is waiting to rescue you. And carry you home. A place that we all know. I’ll carry you home. Just let it all go”. With that wonderful, innocent voice of hers, you are more than willing to follow. It is like hearing Kate Bush again, for the first time. Chrissy sings, “Something in the weight of growing old. We’re falling like stones”. The lyrics then paint a picture of snow falling, and Chrissy sings with that nasal vocal that you get when you’re cold. She sings, “falling like snow, face to the window”, and you know you have made the right choice in requesting or purchasing this album.

“Drown Me Out”, opens like a Depeche Mode, synth-driven masterpiece. And then Chrissy sings, “You drown me out. You said you’d sink me”, to a cool rocking beat. Piano pillars, in between driving, pumping keyboards, synths and electronic drums. Great rhythm and pace and a second spectacular song!

“Wolves”, opens with Chrissy almost mimicking a wolves’ howl. Her vocals mirror Kate Bush. Richard Pilkington provides deep vocals to offset Chrissy perfectly.

“All of Me”, is full of powerful drumming, beautiful piano, and that wall of sound that builds like a wave before crashing full of keyboards and synths; just before Chrissy sings, “I can feel your heartbeat, even after you leave. I hear what your thinking, when your halfway down the street. And your thoughts are getting louder”. A deep love song, full of emotion and absolutely immense music.

“I Am”, is a song of declaration, if ever there was one. It is full of powerful drums and keyboards, with Chrissy repeating the title in many different tones.

“Back to Earth”, is a vocal – driven song, with Chrissy taking a different spin on Kate Bush’s “Hello Earth”. Instead of standing above it like a god, Chrissy is falling back…from space…and into love with the Earth, despite its troubles.

“Good Weather”, opens with deep piano and Chrissy singing, “The words escape out of your mouth. Across the room to my ears so loud. And its not the words. And its not the sound. It’s the violet hum of the thump of ground”. Wonderful, quiet piano continues. Chrissy sings, “Good weather here”.

“You and I”, is definitely not to be associated with the Yes classic of the same name. Though this song does build with Chrissy and Richard exchanging vocals repeating the title. A happy beat despite the sometime dark lyrics. The supporting wall of music is mesmerizing.

“Left to Right”, opens dark and murky, as all great anti-war anthems should. With Richard singing chorus, before piano keynotes begin. Chrissy singing, “Don’t be frightened now. Give your heart to me. I’ll bring it back to life. Bring you back to life. Are you strong enough, behind your suit of green? To be the sacrifice. Are you marching left to right”? One of the best anti-war anthems I’ve heard in a while.

“More”, opens with dark keys. Chrissy sings, “You were not what I desired. You are more. You are fuel and I’m the fire. We are more”. She continues, “You can keep all that you’ve become. Because we’re breaking through all that; here we come!” A great, deep love song, set to cool percussion deep bass and keys.

“Never Do Do I”, is a fun song, full of Chrissy’s vocals, mixed well with Richard singing backup. A fun Kate Bush-like vocal play with words and sounds, set to keyboards and soft guitar. Dreamy at times.

“Try”, has a very upbeat melody along with finger snapping, keyboards, and electric drums. Chrissy sings, “Can we try it again. Try anyway?”

“Violet”, starts as a deep piano piece full of power at the opening. Chrissy’s soft vocal takes out the doom and gloom, before standing bass and deep chords bring back the darkness. Chrissy sings, “You stole my heart like a thief”, before an almost funeral dirge begins.

“In Another Lifetime”, is BHO’s answer to Clannad’s “In A Lifetime”. It has similar qualities to the Clannad song. Deep reflection and reasoned thoughts. Only they look at things from a different perspective. Chrissy sings, “I am alive. I bring to life, everything you dreamed of. But I am in disguised, because I’m everything you can’t have”. Chrissy describes the feelings we all go through when we are not feeling our best. The strings and Chrissy’s vocalizations make this another of the best songs on the album.

This band is everything I expected and…as their song goes…. “More”. Chrissy is not Kate Bush and although she has fun twisting lyrics and making vocal sounds similar to Kate, this music is different and completely original. One of the best albums I’ve heard this year. I’m sure this would have finished very high on my end of year album lists; if only I heard about it then. I was deep into Tool and The Cure last year and probably would have glanced slightly at this album last year. So, yes maybe it was best I heard it this year.

Please do yourself a favor and listen to this album and be transported away from the Global Pandemic of 2020, back to last year before it began. When the world was sane and things seemed a lot better than today. This band is definitely on my watch list, and after hearing this album, I’m sure it will be on yours.

Please buy this, put it on repeat and forget about where you are today.

Track List