Lisa Mitchell - Bless This Mess

Lisa Mitchell -  22-year-old Aussie songstress makes her long-awaited return with the full-length follow-up to 2009's fine breakout album Wonder...a platinum seller Down Under, the delightfully quirky (sm)art/pop Wonder was the recipient of the Australian Music Prize and also brought Mitchell five ARIA nominations... "an unusual, dreamy and surprisingly mature collection of addictive hooks, sunny, unpretentious goofiness and her own left-of-center musical vision" we said at the time...longtime friend, co-writer and instrumentalist Dann Hume (Evermore) once again takes the production reins// Release: Bless This Mess (October 12, AUS) // Sounds like: Lead single "Spiritus", taking it's title from the Latin word for "breath", suitably showcases the breathy, girlish vocals that Mitchell ratchets up to a whole new level on the bracing pop/rockin' title track...the album is about "embracing our human messy-ness" says Mitchell, a theme that could also be used in describing her lovingly scattershot mix of styles, tone and attitude...

Quote: "It kind of explores my awakening to what life is in the past two or three years. And I think also it has a lot to do with finding womanhood, and also there's a lot of love songs in there as well." // What we like: Mitchell speaks of the "light rhythmic energy and percussion from around the world" driving the buoyant lead track "Spiritus"... it's title taken for the Latin word for "breath", is suitably a showcase for Mitchell's breathy, girlish vocals as well as a bright, exotic romp that brings both Paul Simon's Graceland and Vampire Weekend to mind (video below)... .the title track is a crisp new wave-y jumble that reveals a bit more rock and roll heart than we've heard before, the kind of classic propelled pop (and air-guitar riffs) that used to be a staple of 80's Top 40 radio (sigh)...

Lisa Mitchell - "Bless This Mess" (from Bless This Mess)

Lisa Mitchell - "Spiritus" (from Bless This Mess)

Lisa Mitchell - "Romeo and Juliet" (Dire Straits cover)