Americana/Review Michael Messer & Chaz Jankel - Visions Of Hope
Michael Messer is a virtuoso slide guitarist, singer, songwriter, and roots & blues innovator. Throughout his forty-two year career, his music has remained individual and contemporary. Michael Messer's reputation as an innovator of the blues and master of slide guitar is well known. Being British with an international reputation for blues slide guitar is a rarity in itself, but Messer's obsessive appetite for knowledge of his art is virtually unrivaled.
From Michael Messer and Chaz Jankel's joint album Mostly We Drive, the captivating tune "Visions Of Hope" offers a novel fusion of blues and world music elements. A gripping composition that reflects both Messer's (an experienced blues slide guitarist) and Jankel's (a major force behind many of Ian Dury & The Blockheads's classic songs) enormous musical knowledge, as well as the uncertain times it was born out of during lockdown, has been created.
"Visions Of Hope" opens with the ethereal tones of an African thumb piano, drawing the listener into a surreal auditory experience. Beautifully rich and complex atmosphere created by the interplay between Jankel's lyrical solos and Messer's powerful guitar riffs. The beat is equally captivating and bizarre, giving the song's international blues feel more nuance.
Lyrically, the song finds a careful middle ground between pessimism and a strong plea for change. The reflective lines offer a cry for action and optimism within a heartbreaking examination of the problems facing society. It's the kind of tune that evokes strong feelings while provoking contemplation.
This surreal sensation is further enhanced by the accompanying video, which draws viewers even further beyond the song's ideas. "Visions Of Hope" is one of the album's standout tracks, designed to showcase the duo's ability to blend many styles of music while delivering a thought-provoking and timely message. Fans of avant-garde blues should not miss this witness statement to their creative connection.