Review: A Murder in Mississippi – Reverie
A Murder in Mississippi – Reverie
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: For The Road Records
Release: 2024
Text: Pascal Wilhelm
This is MiM’s third album after their self-titled debut (2018) and ‘Hurricana'(2021). ‘Reverie’ (2024) stands for a state of being lost in one’s thoughts, although pleasantly. And what is delivered creates exactly that, delightfully.
Homebase of the band is Ghent (Belgium), more specifically Ghent’s famous Blues & Roots club The Missy Sippy where they play regularly. The six-piece band; Leander Vandereecken (guitar, lead vocals), Mirthe Vandereecken (percussion, vocals), Lore Heyerick (banjo, vocals), Dieter Vanhede (keys), Alexandra Van Wesemael (violin) and Stijn Bontinck (double bass) has an international reputation. In 2023, they sold out venues in Belgium and the Netherlands and embarked on a tour through Portugal, Spain and France. Headlining the La Roche Bluegrass Festival was a highlight that year.
‘Reverie’ was recorded in the dunk!studios with producer Jonas Everaert. Dutch For the Road Records released the album, picking up the baton from Sing my Title, the record company owned by the late Tiny Legs Tim, nestor of Ghent’s roots and blues scene.
Their self-titled debut album already showed their strong suit: Americana played with authenticity and virtuosity. In their own words it is Roots music, a blend of Americana, Country, Folk, Blues and Irish Traditional.The (almost) all-strings set-up with strong vocals works exceptionally well. When witnessing them live, you cannot but fall for their music, their performances are simply exhilarating.
Biggest star of the band in my opinion is violin player Alexandra Van Wesemael who delivers beautiful musical accompaniment and soli amidst her hard-rocking colleagues. But don’t rule out the others, MiM is a collection of musicians with a high level of roots knowledge and the ability to, collectively, create something unique from that. They are simply exceptional.
‘Reverie’ builds upon its predecessors. Everything is just more beautiful: the songs, the playing, the production, the artwork. Where will they go next?
Enjoy this excellent work folks! For alligators’ sake!
Tracks:
01. Black Train
02. Highfield Lane
03. Mary Lou
04. Midnight Roller
05. Banjer City
06. Kingfisher
07. Whirlwind
08. Black Cats Dance in the Barn
09. Medicine Man
10. Bright City Lights
Line-up A Murder In Mississippi:
Leander Vandereecken: gitaar, lead vocals
Mirthe Vandereecken: percussie, vocals
Lore Heyerick: banjo, vocals
Dieter Vanhede: keys
Alexandra Van Wesemael: viool
Stijn Bontinck: contrabas