While you may well not have heard of Mesadorm, you’re quite likely to have heard the voice of vocalist, Blythe Pepino. Back in 2016, Blythe was signed to a major label as the front-woman of Vaults, had sung on a John Lewis Christmas advert and toured with London Grammar. In early 2017, after finding that life not entirely compatible with her own artistic vision, Blythe turned her back on major labels, and went for something considerably more left-field, in the shape of Mesadorm. After their well-received 2018 debut, Heterogaster, the band are set to return in April with a new acoustic record, Epicadus and today we’re premiering the video to the first single from the record, The Joy It Joins Us Up.
The track was recorded live in a church in Eype in Dorset; the same church where PJ Harvey recorded Let England Shake. Set to a perfectly simple arrangement of vocal and plaintive piano, The Joy It Joins Us Up is written for Blythe’s ex-partner. This is no bitter break-up anthem though, instead it was inspired by looking back on the good times, as Blythe explains, “Tom and I sat in the bath and decided to cry and laugh and remember all the incredible moments we had shared together. Though we had allowed change to happen gradually, the time had come to say goodbye to our romance. The ‘smiles in the movement’ are his smiles and the smiles of our old and new loves. A stupendously beautiful connection and understanding between us all. Tom taught me how to love, how to trust, and this is my way of saying he is carved into the very fabric of me.”
Musically, Epicadus represents a departure from the electronic tones of Heterogaster, the band embracing the beauty in the subtle timbres of acoustic instrumentation. The natural echoing beauty of the church, as much a part of the songs character as any of the instrumentation or natural tones of Blythe’s vocal. To celebrate Epicadus’ release, Measdorm will be heading out on a tour in April, the dates for which are below.
‘Epicadus’ Acoustic Tour 2019
24th April – The Forge, Bristol
25th April – The Barrelhouse, Totnes
26th April – The Rose Hill, Brighton
27th April – St Mary’s Music Hall, London
28th April – Cobolt Studios, Newcastle
29th April – Hug & Pint, Glasgow
30th April – Secret Location, Edinburgh
1st May – Secret Location, Manchester
11th May – Rodborough Church, Stroud
25th May – Kino, Hastings
26th May – Poltimore Festival, Exeter
Epicadus is out April 12th via Babylegs Records. Click HERE for more information on Mesadorm.
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