Mir
– Truth Be Told
CD
/ DL
Out
Now
8
/ 10
Scottish based Country rockers release their new album.
It’s
been a while since Mir’s last album Secret, but one in which the band have had
changed in line-up leading to the current quartet fronted by Irish born Miriam
Campbell. The band are now back with a
short but perfectly formed nine tracks which amply display the songwriting
skills of Campbell bar a wonderful cover version of Can’t Find The Doorknob
originally recorded by Jimmy Fautheree and presented here simply as Doorknob.
Opening
with the upbeat Country rock of Tow The Line, the intentions of Mir to provide
a thoroughly entertaining album are made very clear. Miriam sounding like a modern day version
June Carter Cash effortlessly belts out a classic sounding Country ditty. The pint sized singer with the gallon sized
voice bellows a restrained aggression and a heartfelt commitment.
Recent
single, Runaround is a more serene affair.
Still Country in roots, but more campfire than raging fire. Miriam’s voice falling softly over limited percussion
and a crying guitar through some incisive and obviously personal lyrics. It’s a well-produced number (by husband Colin
and bassist Keith Robinson), as is the rest of the album, and its quality shines
through.
The
Gavel too indicates a song with a personal message and completes an opening
trio of fine songs to the album displaying three sides to Mir which are
different enough to keep the whole album interesting and entertaining from
start to end.
E=Mc2
is probably the most commercial effort on the album, a fine hook and a chorus
that is difficult to forget. The title
track again has a lyric that clearly has an underlying agenda of sorts –
reflective and sincere, it once more leaves the voice of Miriam to control the
track with just guitar as backing.
Album
closer, Rock N Roll does exactly what it says on the sleeve and is the liveliest
track by far. With echoes of classic
rock perhaps akin to Chuck Berry, it rips through its three minutes like there
was no tomorrow and is the perfect end in terms of track sequencing.
Truth
Be Told is a great, solid album and clearly one that has been thought out and
worked on for some time, the results of which are clear to see. Well worth a listen.
Secret album review
Published on Louder Than War 15/06/15 - here
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