single review
Micko & The Mellotronics
Misery Guts
Landline Records
Out 25 October 2025
Follow up to “Would You Believe It” and the LTW interview in July, comes another taster for the upcoming album ‘The Trinity’, scheduled for release in early 2026, Misery Guts finds the Mellotronics on sparkling and spikey form. Ged Babey believes the songwriter behind Guilty (about Ruth Ellis) Holloway Road (Joe Meek) and Autosexual (google it) is one of UK’s greats – if only Joe Public realised!
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve covered Micko and his releases for Louder Than War (over ten probably) so we know each other, online and off, quite well now. So when he first told me he’d completed a song called ‘Misery Guts’, well, in true Carly Simon, it’s-all-about-me fashion I assumed that I was the subject, being known for my moan-athons. But he assured me it’s not.
‘Misery Guts meets Naysayer’ should be the full-title and it’s yet another of Westmorelands character studies in song. Human behaviour and disfunction under his microscope set to a nippy tune.
It’s a cartoon noir that follows a couple who function around giving as good as they get. Says the press release.
I asked Micko to elaborate.
‘When there’s little to no self-awareness, there can be a tendency to project into the exterior world as a justification for one’s misery. Although the world can often be an unfaithful place and at times plain unfair.
I put trust in the notion that internal reflection can bring about feeling better about yourself. The back handed compliments that run through the song though speak of a cynical meanness, it’s a method to control and undermine which affects self esteem.
It’s important to realise that what the characters say is underpinned by a subtext of what they don’t. This gives room for the listeners imagination.
The missing pieces are there for the listener, in a sense they’re just as important as what is stated.’
I nodded furiously, stroking my chin in an attempt to look like I understood. ‘So, it’s not about me then?’ I asked.
No.
At least Micko hadn’t resorted to his usual name-dropping.
Renowned producer Chris Kimsey was also essential to the making of ‘The Trinity’, acting as an executive producer. Making suggestions left, right and centre on instrument choices, vocal sound and even harmonies, Kimsey’s support has been invaluable in the creation of recent singles and the upcoming album.
The Rolling Stones producer who also produced Peter Perrett’s How The West Was Won masterpiece? Cool. No wonder it sounds better than the previous stuff.
You’re a git Babey.
Likewise you old ham.
Misery Guts meets Naysayer is out now and Micko & The Mellotronics play The Fiddlers Elbow, Camden, TONIGHT! 25 October 2025 to launch it in style.
For more information:
Facebook | Spotify | Website | Bandcamp
Artwork credit: Garry Barker
All words Ged Babey with press release content in italics
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