Mike Bones
At first listen, the finely drawn world that Mike Bones creates is pushed to one side to make way for the catchy riff so clearly suited to be the background music to an advert of a mobile phone network or perfume. It’s just one of those songs.
But not completely dismissing it as a faddy jingle single, with a steady acoustic guitar rhythm to open up, and a haunting droney voice accompanying it, there comes a fresher sound you would not often associate with that of similar music. And then you really hear the lyrics.
Telling the tale of misery and unrequited love, sugar coated in a two minute uplifting build up of stringed instruments, the New York guitarist has not only been surprisingly honest with his carefully selected words, but a single repetitive note of piano keys gives a boost to the song that the lyrics cannot do alone similar to that of Kate Nash’s 2008 release, Mouthwash.
Asking, “you will find happiness in the arms of other men, what am I left with then?†Mike is not afraid to appear vulnerable, and comes off as mature for his young persona. Not surprisingly from the single, he proudly states on his Myspace page that his influences are both beautiful women as well as existential despair – and what a outcome that combination has resulted in.
As his UK debut single Mike Bones’s music provides the pretty little bow to accompany the misery of a broken heart. What I Have Left proves a beautifully written but gut-wrenchingly honest piece of music, which is not only rare for a debut single but is certainly bound to melt some hearts.
What I Have Left is due for release on January 26th.
Rating – 4/5
By Karen Asbury