Mahto and The Loose Balloons - Systemic - Live on Radio Bristol
Jive to Mahto and The Loose Balloons’s witty, alt-folk ballad, ‘Systemic – Live on Radio Bristol’!
It’s so refreshing to hear a group willing to air their minimal, live performances in an age of overproduced studio sessions. ‘On Air’ is the latest EP from Mahto and The Loose Balloons, a collection of tracks recorded during radio appearances at different stations. Its honest, meaningful and intimate and brings to the fore the real spirit of folk Americana music.
The opening track, “Systemic (Live on Radio Bristol),” opens in classic radio performance style. They are introduced by the host and count down to launch into this intriguing intro. Deep bass notes, acoustic strums and subtle piano accents form a groovy, confident foundation. Upon which, band leader and vocalist Mahto Addison-Browder’s witty prose unfolds.
‘Captain sitting at his desk; even he don’t know the solution yet….’ The lyrics take aim at heads of organized system structures, who’ve been in power for far too long and seem obsolete in coping with the rapidly changing nature of our times. This, in turn, is leading to anger and unrest amongst the masses, promoting a collective sense of uprising, protest and refusal of the current status quo. Mahto’s nonchalant, measured delivery and reference to current escalations gives gravity to the meaning behind the witty words.
The straightforward, looping folk arrangements recorded live give the listener an intimate experience where you can feel the shifts in tone and phrasing. It gives this rendition of ‘Systemic’ an invaluable living and breathing feel, one that can only be accomplished in live settings.
