American Mikal Cronin studied music at the California Institute of the Arts and worked for bands such as Okie Dokie, Epsilons, Party Fowl, Moonhearts and Ty Segall. But his training is especially useful for this singer / songwriter and multi-instrumentalist on his solo records, such as his third album MCIII. Cronin combines gentle and richly arranged sixties music with classic rock and timeless pop.
The atmosphere feels dark, but with a strong sense of melody and accompanied by rasping acoustic guitar, strings and brass, it never becomes a valley of tears. Towards the end it also starts to get heavier, like in the psychedelic rocking Ready. Cronin masters it all and delivers an extremely rich record with MCIII. (MR)more