LCM Song Of The Day: ‘The Rose That Poisoned The Ground’ - El Misti

Rocking some serious White Strips vibes our featured track today is the latest single from North-West band El Misti. On 30th March, they will be releasing their self titled debut album. We have an advanced copy and it’s sounding very good’.

Ten years after a chance meeting in a humid Rio de Janeiro hostel, Cheshire/Liverpool band El Misti finally release their debut album. Singer Songwriter Paddy Bleakley and guitarist Kieran Gilchrist, bonded over a mutual love of classic acoustic folk, Americana, rock and roll, west coast psychedelia and Latin culture, as well as a mutual disregard for personal safety, health and well being.

The pair went their separate ways: Kieran embarking on a musical pilgrimage to Central and South America, and Paddy starting a bar and music venue called Kash 22, in his native Frodsham, Cheshire. Eventually reuniting, the pair built a recording studio above the bar and got to work. With countless hours of writing, regular hazy after hours sessions and occasional intimate performances, the duo took their time to create a body of work they believed in.

The bar acted as a creative club house, bringing the rest of the collective together. Mike Gregson, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter was originally pulling the pints. Rory Ballentyne, notable for his production work with Liverpool bands ‘Paul Dunbar and The Black Winter Band’ and ‘The Grande’ came highly recommended by a few of the acts gracing the bar’s stage.

Early 2019 saw them hone their craft in the studio above Kash 22, before checking into the live room at Liverpool’s Ark Studios. Helped along by legendary local musicians such as KD Tagg art on mandolin and percussion, Lee Shone on keys, Adrian Gautrey on organ and classical violinist Daniel Axworthy, the band finally finished an album drawing influences from the sum of its parts. From Nashville to Santiago de Cuba, Memphis to Manchester, Liverpool to Laurel Canyon and Belfast to Woodstock, the needles of musical diversity and political discourse glide elegantly over El Misti’s debut record.