Miki Berenyi Trio are Miki Berenyi on vocals/guitar (Lush), Kevin (KJ) “Moose” McKillop on guitar (Moose) and Oliver Cherer (Gilroy Mere, Aircooled).
For those needing a flowchart, the three musicians first worked together during Piroshka’s 2021 tour; Miki and KJ being founder members, and Oliver coming in on bass to replace Mick Conroy (Modern English) who had moved to the US. Along with drummer Justin Welch (Elastika), Piroshka goes back to 2018 and yielded two LPs. (See their bandcamp page here.)
Equitably, they capped ”Tripla” at nine songs, with three tracks contributed by each member, recording in home studios and rehearsal rooms in and around London. By design, the new MB3 lineup forgoes a drummer, which at times dilutes the LP’s power. However, the electronic beats help to create an atmosphere the band organically sought out in the lead up to recording. Songs and lyrics were often built and tweaked between live gigs. As Oliver mentions in a new video interview with Electronic Café, “The album was written to play live.” KJ echoes this sentiment saying that rather than having the songs exist as “studio entities”, they wrote and arranged them knowing upcoming gigs would be ideal places to try them out.
Lead track and first single, “8th Deadly Sin” has a dance beat awash in synths and sparse guitars and is decidedly reminiscent of Miki’s Lush years. There’s a cold steel-ness to the production that Martin Hannett was famous for in decades past, and it helps so much here to balance what could have resulted in a too-sweet pop confection. The lyrics here are equally bracing, speaking to how humans are decimating the planet.
“Kinch” follows. The amorphous, atmospheric melodies are buoyed by a stomping drum track. This tune reminds me of the latest music from Miki’s bandmate in Lush, Emma Anderson, on her outstanding ”Pealies” LP (Sonic Cathedral, 2023).
Pre-LP single “Vertigo” is another gem. Miki channels Lush’s “Light From a Dead Star” with her novel, breathy, and somewhat “spooky” (sorry!) vocal delivery. The song seeps into you like a futuristic lullaby and builds with synths-a-swirling. I do think live drums would have made this song even better, and I’d say this is true with several tracks on ”Tripla”.
“Gango” has a decidedly Gang of Four bite to it, before spinning off with an array of slightly industrial electronics that make so much sense here. Well played! “A Different Girl” is a standout for me. Kevin’s influence here may carry over from his days in Moose. The soundscapes are fresh, ethereal, and direct with a minimalism that allows for Miki’s vocal to float overhead before the groovy beat kicks in.
“Big I Am” is the album’s third single. Catchy drum rhythms, flanging guitars, and synths add levity while Miki bashes away at social media’s vapid darlings. The closing tracks, “Manu” and “Ubique”, fit well together. “Manu”’s groovy lounge-room beat evokes a sun-splashed 60s roadtrip. Lyrics may be a bit dark, but Miki delivers with dreamy sultriness. “Ubique” begins with Creatures vibes before it too goes off into a shimmering, angelic fog.
Overall, MB3 has produced a gorgeous new record that carries on many of the best aspects of Lush without sounding repurposed or pastiche. Put on the headphones and drift away for a blissful 40 minutes.
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