MESAVERDE – All is Well

I thoroughly enjoyed the debut offering by the eclectic Oslo-based ensemble known as MesaVerde, namely the engrossing KY album that came out in October 2022, and I was very much looking forward to this sophomore effort of theirs. In simple terms, All is Well surpasses its predecessor in every conceivable way and delivers clever arrangements, infectious hooks, and big, fat grooves in spades – more so than you and I probaby deserve.

Somewhere between modern prog, atmospheric indie rock, melancholy art pop, and arguably even jazz is where MesaVerde seem to reside, and rather comfortably so I would wager. Judging by how incredibly well things flow on this disc and the way in which these guys effortlessly blend various genres and styles together to such stunning effect, one can only applaud the record’s spectacular display of vision and revel in its unique sense of charisma and understated power. Oftentimes they conjure up an aura that is both dream-like and surreal, which makes it feel as if the songs exist outside the constraint of time and place. That is a beautful thing in and of itself, and a significant part of the album’s compelling vibe and pulling power lies in the fact that it transports the listener elsewhere. A personal favorite of mine is ‘Tracing‘, which is almost like Drama-era Yes hooking up with The Buggles and then throwing a few ideas from David Bowie’s Reality into the mix. Then there is the delirious and irresistable ‘Pickings for the Beast‘, which nods towards 80s New Wave and the New Romantics movement – just superb songwriting in every sense of the word and impossible to shake. And do not even get me started on the brilliance of the hypnotic album closer ‘Story‘.

All is Well is perfect if feeling either reflective or contemplative but it can also serve as an uplifting and life-affirmative musical experience tinged with a subtle dose of longing, and for that very reason I love this exceptionally well-written and varied affair.