"Long Before You" Review
Artist Mystic Levello continues his admirable artistic experimentation
with the dazzling new single, ‘Long Before You’. Merging uplifting
folk chords with a stylish rhythm and dreamy vocals, there is a true
sense of unification between the elements. Levello is a skilled
musician, not just in his unique voice, but in his ability to bring
layers of inspiration and genre to a single, streamlined sound. This
makes ‘Long Before You’ an ethereal wave of an experience to listen
to.
Intimacy is a feeling that is
forefronted in ‘Long Before You’. Mystic Levello sings with a
conversational tone, full of control and careful enunciation, as he
reflects on the sheer preciousness of our Earth. In a time where to
pause and reflect is deemed unproductive, Mystic Levello gives us
that well-needed moment to stop and look around at what nature has
given us - and what we are losing due to our actions.
The lyricism is poignant and
anecdotal, full of historical and natural imagery: “Long before you
long before Adam met Eve / she was around, planting the world with
her seeds / she gave us the land, the beaches, the sandy seas /
giving us life, a place in the sun to breathe.” From Mystic
Levello’s view on the world, it is a work of art. It is the result
of craft and thought, from another person whose gardening has given
us the ultimate blossom. Although it captures a time long before us,
we feel personally connected through our humanity and shared
admiration for what the world provides.
The balance between religious
retellings and mystical actions produces a beautiful vision of
nature being more than us. ‘Long Before You’, simply, is a spiritual
experience as much as a song to sing along to.
However, aside from the undeniable
beauty that Levello’s lyricism has conjured up, there is a larger
purpose to ‘Long Before You’. The song is a warning of loss which
reaches its climax with the melancholy shift in the chorus. As we
are addressed with collective responsibility, an undercurrent of
low-tone synths occupy the instrumentation. The light-hearted strum
of the guitar mutes to meandering notes as Mystic Levello sings:
“She knows that we’re in danger / lost / out of touch / she only
talks to angels / she only looks with love.” Levello has a
well-balanced skill in his lyricism, crafting serious subject matter
with a small spark of hope. Whilst we are evidently in trouble,
Levello’s imagery of Eve is still a figure of benevolence and
reassurance. It is the perfect way to both highlight the extent to
which our world needs us to help, and that we can do so.
Mystic Levello further introduces
spoken-word elements, which is extremely effective in helping the
direct mode of address the song aims to achieve. Such aspects such
as spoken-word, predominantly acoustic instruments and percussions,
define ‘Long Before You’ as a quintessential New Age song. The
arrangement of the track encourages space for the listener to think
and reflect, whilst establishing a trance-like rhythm to focus
with.
On the other hand, the sheer
unfiltered honesty of Mystic Levello’s brilliant lyrics means that
‘Long Before You’ dabbles in the prospect of being a protest song.
With the current age of climate emergency and rapid environmental
deterioration, there is an undeniable sense of urgency to be
proactive in the here and now - something which Levello perfect
portrays in this track. While we may enjoy the aesthetic and genre
elements of the song (in all their polished production), ‘Long
Before You’ cuts deeper than most current releases. Mystic Levello
demonstrates his distinctive artistry is as much an environmental
cause as it is an art form, and does so with a determination audible
to all.
Review from Faye Williamson
February 2021
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"Long Before You" Review
Recording artist Mystic Levello is a rare
talent - the kind who is always ready and willing to actually try
new things, taking his music to the next level and defying all
expectations, while still maintaining an incredibly catchy and
creative tone. He has developed a heartfelt sound, at times
reminiscent of some of the most timeless new age music, at times
reminiscent of fusion and folk.
His most recent release is a perfect example of the artist’s quest for
ongoing creativity and his thirst for expanding his musical horizon.
The song is titled “Long Before You (Look With Love).” The song has
a beautiful and playful acoustic guitar pattern, which perfectly
matches the artist’s understated and imitate vocal style. In
addition to that, I really love the percussion backdrop, featuring
some African-style bongo tones in 16th notes, keeping up a nice pace
and adding an Afro-beat twist to the rest of the drum kit,
consisting of a basic kick, a smooth hi-hat sound and a snare often
performed with a softer sound. The choruses change slightly, with
the ride cymbal replacing the hi-hat in order to give the tune a
more open vibe to it. The vocal sound has a very poetic and almost
conversational feel to it, because Mystic Levello is an amazing
storyteller, he his able to evoke strong feelings with his sound and
he loves to create beautiful lyrics that are so iconic. This is a
dreamy and romantic song, which makes me think of artists as diverse
as Don McLean, Jack Johnson, as well as Bob Dylan, Dead Rituals, and
Cat Stevens, only to mention but a few. The first thing that will
immediately jump at you is the soothing and emotionally evocative
soundscape delivered by this very gifted artist.
Mystic Levello is amazing at building ambiance with his songs,
layering multiple sounds, without ever “muddying up” the tone of his
releases. This is definitely the case with “Long Before You (Look
With Love), which appears so incredibly dynamic and balanced.
Review from Band Camp Diaries
February 2021
