Almost 40 years after forming in Leeds, the Mekons have yet to take the easy route. Existentialism is a live recording of new songs, plus a 96-page book of writing and art. Even when utilizing the audience as an ad hoc choir, these are skeletally arranged, roughly recorded compositions that hint at dub and folk. But this music is also unerringly alive. As per usual for the Mekons, songs like “O Money” and “1848 Now!” comment trenchantly on a disturbing zeitgeist.
An almost more traditional take on the band’s legacy comes courtesy of Bonnie Prince Billy, Angel Olsen and others, under the guise of Chivalrous Amoekons. Fanatic Voyage contains a live set of Mekons covers sans crowd noise. It’s not as wild as vintage Mekons, but “The Curse” and “Fantastic Voyage” work surprisingly well as loping country rock. And Olsen makes a great Sally Timms stand-in on “Love Letter.”
—Michael Pelusi
