I discovered Meresha in my twitter inbox quite by accident and it has to be one of the happiest accidents I have had the pleasure to have befallen! I even said as much back in July! “Look How Far” is the new single for the upcoming double-album release from this amazing artist and the title says as much as the rest of her music does. A funky synth-driven dance number that celebrates the growth of and in her music since she started posting her infectious pop and dance rhythms in 2014, and a well-placed start for the retrospective look at her prolific recording career.
Jungle Potion (from her 2017 “Enter the Dreamland” EP): some funky 70s / 80s synth-brass with a balmy celebration of jungle life.
Olivia (released in September 2019 as a single): swirly Casio-type synth fanfares layered over a heavy-bass beat.
Enter the Dreamland (title track from her 2017 release, later remixed by JackEl): 90s/00s dance anthem with a driving beat aimed right at the solar-plexus.
Lights Out (also from “Dreamland”): what starts out as another dance anthem swaps tempos just like when the lights actually go out! I can just see this at a gig- turning the lights out and strobing across the venue to get the punters in the mood!
My love has come (single release from February 2016): Meresha loves the high humidity settings! Here is some more steam to get you in the mood for more of whatever takes your fancy! This one celebrates a relationship of her own with a nice acoustic-guitar outro to keep mixing it up.
new revolution (title track from her 2015 EP which was re-released in three remixes: a radio-edit, a shorter Klubjumpers remix, and an extended version): this version concentrates on the synth and bass to keep you moving.
Hold (single released in April 2020): a plea to a lover to just dial it back a bit .. to chill with or without the Netflix, if you don’t mind! An intermission, if you please, while we get ready for the second act of the collection.
Violet Night (single release from February 2018, and the basis of the Wavo Remix contest which was released as a collection of 8 remixes in 2018): The solar-plexus-driver returns to start bringing the rhythm back up into part 2.
Stardust (also from “Dreamland”): a dreamy celebration of all things stellar.
Game of Video (single release from August 2018): life is a video game at which you just need to get better so you can level up. More swirl, a touch of steam.
lemonade city: “new revolution” was a celebration of summer, with lemonade opening the record with a slow, saltry salute to that season and the suggestion that one of the guys at the club could come with her to become her king of that city. The Summer was then celebrated in the EP closer, and on track 13 of this collection, august.
Vida (very early single release from 2014): another Meresha anthem with nonchalant and airbourne upper limbs to a driving bass and beat.
Coconut Island (single release from June 2019): revives some older bottom-end sounds and layers some beautiful vocal effects with a flamenco-flavoured middle-eight into a reggae-flavoured coda.
New Revolution (Funky mix): a new Sister Sledge / Kool & the Gang-driven version only available on this record which incorporates a funky Strat sound in a high-stakes 70s disco-rock closer to this incredible collection. You could play it back-to-back with track 7 and not know it’s, basically, the same song. I love me a remix!
Meresha fans will be familiar with most of this music, as well as that amazing voice and its resonating timbre that belies her years. They will also be happy that it will soon be available in one package through their favourite streaming or download service. It isn’t long now until 25 September so pre-save the album and start streaming the older versions, or visit her YouTube channel in preparation for the album now! Plus, pre-save the album now for eight tracks to your device straight away- can’t get more incentive than that!