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New Mythology

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Four years since his last release, New Mythology promises to “cultivate joy in a time of great turning”, whilst pondering the deeper meanings and answers humanity has long sought. This anthropological approach makes for a provocative listen, as Cuban-influenced guitar rhythms and philosophical lyrics harmonise in conjunction with light percussion and a playful smattering of electronic synth. Though somewhat existentially driven, the album engenders a particular warmth, leaving you feeling refreshed and uplifted – almost like the album equivalent of a hug from an old friend. The music is carefully and attractively scored, realised with producer and Manu Chao collaborator Renaud Letang. He oversees the gently mesmeric loops of Sea Inside (Third Way) and Another Way To Be, songs that are both soothing and energising, recalling as they evolve the best moments from previous album Wake Up Now. Mulvey’s subtle tinkering with audio perspectives are also reminiscent of older material, tampering with slight echo effects on Star Nation or introducing woozy, questioning electronica on The Gift. As the album progresses a sense of community lingers, found in the swell of a chorus or the murmured repetition of a mantra. Thankfully the cringe factor of ‘friend chips by the fire’ is avoided in favour of music with lasting appeal.

Lyrically he often hits the target. “Being a brother to you wasn’t easy for me,” he admits on Brother To You, confessing “I ran and took for granted you’d be there.” A Prayer Of My Own starts the album thoughtfully, blossoming to something approaching euphoria. “Can we bear the unbearable?” he asks, examining his soul before determining that “I do it for my own, my little boy, my little girl, and we do it for our home”. Domestic anthems such as this are in surprisingly short supply, but in one song Mulvey nails a key element of human existence. These first-hand accounts of relationships, beliefs, literary encounters and environmental concerns have real substance, however, and his music keeps a peace and poise that wouldn’t have been out of place in California in the mid-1960s. Shores Of Mona finds just the right balance, its darker elements – “out of my dreams there came a warning, three times she called to me” – finding a peaceful resolution in the music. New Mythology, from the first song A Prayer Of My Own to Begin Again, gently take us down a path that is both self-aware and unsure. An album we can close our eyes to or follow the path ourselves and see what we find. As the songs flow into each other, their sonic environment is so present. I almost can feel the warmth from the fire close by as it’s as if Mulvey, himself, is merely playing these songs on his own in a dark room in winter, then on a mastered/produced major-label album. The production aids this quality more than any article describing the album could explain. It’s raw but so fragile. The placement of lyrics, music and production on New Mythology, showcases an artist who’s not shy to be subversive and creative but knows exactly what they’re doing. While the album feels unbound and free, there’s always a structure that keeps our feet on the ground while our heads are in the clouds.We’re living through times of incredible systemic collapse. It feels like everything is changing: there’s great crisis, there’s great opportunity, as well as, of course, radical uncertainty. What I’m proud of is on Friday with Mac, the hundred of us there – we sat, and we turned and faced. I think that’s a remarkable thing, in that so often today, we’re distracted in some way. We must choose to turn towards the uncertainty of these times to whatever degree we’re able to. Mac has this real wisdom. He talked about the ‘awakening of the sleeping giant’ and the sleeping giant would be the millions of good people who would do nothing in this time, who care but are not moved enough to act. He calls for a radical response through kindness, presence and all of us really asking ourselves, ‘What is of true worth?’“

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