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MRCH are back this Autumn with ‘TV Bliss’, a brand new EP that is a sensitive and explosive showcase of their talents, with a vulnerability that underpins their writing. These are the talents of Mickey and Jesse Pangburn, the married duo behind the four diverse tracks penned for release in October. The couple’s last release ‘Anxious and Angry’ back in 2022 became a poignant title for the single as they had to resolve “emotional wounds” when entering the process for the new release, Mickey recalls. Coming out of the other side of that, both Mickey and Jesse have continued to break through their musical and lyrical barriers with ‘TV Bliss’, a cinematic dreamscape of synth, soft vocals, punchy drums and clinquant guitars.
Taking a step back to the end of 2021, the duo found themselves in slight turmoil, Mickey admits. “We were in a weird spot. It’s kind of treating some emotional wounds. Had a moment of clarity that we couldn’t give up making music even if it was during a hard time, so we started writing.” There was an element of nerves approaching this new chapter, however. “We don’t get nervous so much playing in front of people or hanging out with people in real life. [But] something about making something then just putting it out on the whole internet to see if anyone else in the world resonates with it can feel really scary. It doesn’t ever seem to get easier in that regard. But it always feels meaningful.” This underlying meaning allowed MRCH to explore their wounds lyrically. ‘Stars Align’, the first single from the record is an ode to their songwriting abilities. “Try, try, try” Mickey punches vocally, before launching into a guitar and synth-driven bombardment with Jesse’s drumsticks in action to hold the beat. “We really liked how big the drums ended up being especially,” Mikey adds.
The ‘Stars Align’ track was played on a slower tempo for a ‘Live from the Garden’ performance which has since been added to their YouTube channel. “We’ve been playing with different ideas for changing up how and where we play,” Mickey notes. The video sees the band joined by Billy Rose on bass, completing a line-up for the slowed down version. “That garden is actually Billy’s yard! And yes, he’s playing bass with us live whenever schedules permit. We love having him along. Great guy.” The sun-drenched video was filmed by the duo Frank Thomas and Tyler Thomas. The duo take the band’s glazed verses and add the encroaching sunlight into directions that fade and highlight the multi-instrumentalists from behind. As we build into Mickey’s penultimate line, “such a perfect waste of my time,” there is an air of summer and the luxury of slowness it forgoes.
As the summer light gives way to a ‘TV Bliss’ Autumnal period, it also gave way to other singles such as ‘Easiest to Bend’ – a track that hits a blend of shoegaze harmonies and soft drums, prior to opening up into melodic, glimmering chorus. ‘A Midas touch’, Mickey croons in the initial verse, almost describing how this vulnerable track unfolds effortlessly in front of us. “That [song] was kind of an homage to a melody you’d hear on something like the ‘Pure Moods’ compilation CD of the 90’s. When we were kids, that infomercial would play at commercial break all the time,” Mickey says, linking back to the television theme. ‘Give you all my love, give you all my love’ she repeats, holding that vulnerable side close as we sift our way through the guitar-driven chorus. “This whole EP plays with that idea,” Mickey notes in reference to the vulnerability of the lyrics. The video for the track is “so inspired by The Primitives video,” she adds, in reference to the new wave’s band’s video for ‘Crash’. “The haze and colours were meant to capture the mood of the song; the colours it brings to mind just by the nature of its tones.” The hazy and vibrant video sees Mickey on the floor, holding the vocals close before the chorus sees an overlaid version of herself dancing, almost polar opposites of one another. This mirrored effect almost refers to the notion of ‘smoke and mirrors’ – especially as we see the band engulfed in smoke by the end notes. There is almost a sepia tone over Jesse on the drums, with the motion of his sticks becoming a hypnotic vision in juxtaposition with Mickey’s movements.
Having previously supported the synth-pop three-piece Chvrches in their own home city of Phoenix, the small screen name for the project is shared with them by coincidence. ‘TV Bliss’ meets ‘Screen Violence’ – an oppositional naming choice for a theme that conjoins them, the television. “That is quite a coincidental name connection too,” Mickey adds. “Their similarity, or opposition, never even crossed our minds! Must be in our subconscious. [We] were honoured to get to open for Chvrches. But it was just one show in Phoenix. They were so good. And their crew was really on top of everything. We went out to drinks with all their visual guys after and just chatted [about] lights, videos and things. Really lovely.” MRCH’s summer of 2023 saw them play shows with the likes of Blood Red Shoes and Poppy Jean Crawford – taking the opportunity to launch the tracks in a live setting. “The summer has been a lot of fun, but very very hot. We had a few shows in the lead-up to this EP release. They were a great chance to get back out there after all this time behind the scenes. One was a pool party and it was great. Except it was something like 117 degrees fahrenheit, and we were outdoors. There was overheating gear and it took some effort just to stay upright. But if you can walk away from that having still enjoyed the night – we’d say that’s a win!”
The latest single ‘Cherry Painted Eyes’ is “Jesse’s favourite song on the record,” Mickey adds. “It’s a lot of fun to play live. I wrote it about a series of panic attacks so it’s lyrically a little dark, but the melody has levity. We really hope people like it too! Made a really DIY video for it as well. That was a whole adventure.” An explosive entry to the song sees the band slow us down abruptly before the line ‘I’m caving in as the temperature rises’ brings us into their immersive sound world. Jesse’s drums play a huge part in this track, helping lead us through a pace-infused dreamland, working slower to create suspense before shattering the illusion with driving symbols. There is a second chance to explore this dreamland further in ‘Wild’, the last of the tracks to be released from ‘TV Bliss’. A soft drumbeat taunts Mickey’s vocals in the opening before an explosive, long wall of sound that has haunting tenacity mixed with glittering guitars. ‘Do what makes us scared,’ she sings, giving us a feeling of overcoming that vulnerability showcased in earlier tracks, almost coming full circle. “It’s been nice that folks are connecting with Wild [because] it’s a bit of a chiller vibe. It’s lovely to hear people repeating lyrics back, knowing that they can relate.”
The retention of vulnerability throughout ‘TV Bliss’ is unravelled in ‘Wild’, creating a seamless blend of the duo’s sounds. There is no compromise in the lyrics and sets the tone for the band’s vision for the music. “I love the lyrics of this one,” Mickey adds. “The build. And then just the wall of reverb at the end. It’s maybe not a typical “single”, but it really lets me live out my shoegaze dreams.” These dreams are told in an almost story-like manner through the writing, holding the darkness within to begin with but evolving and moving into the sunlight with each and every track. Metaphorically similar to switching on the television, with the light flashing with slight visual noise as we enter that world. “It used to be nostalgic,” Mickey adds. “Now it’s simply the fact that there are such great stories being told in ultra cinematic ways on TV.”
