Misterlee
'Onward, with Qualities To Be Prized...' "There is no true label or definition that one could apply to Misterlee, it stands up not only as its own sound, but provokes emotion in a way that most music can't these days" Airscale, FolkItUp.net. "Jamie's guitaring is a phenomenon to behold, and exercise in controlled passion to match John Parish (PJ Harvey collaborator). The contrast between power and restraint is a detail in a much bigger picture. Frequent stylistic switches sometimes read as jolting or stilted, sometimes as swerves in the enigmatic but ordered flight of the bumble bee. For all the swerves and switchbacks, the guitar breezes jazz and drips sweet blues. Lee's synth sounds swoop atmospherically then scratch and lust cybernetically. Many sounds metamorphose from the intermeshed processing of voice and pedalling of guitar. But others are the unique product of a singer with microphone in one hand and drumstick in the other. Harsh beats crunching, twisting scrapyard compactors. The vocal speaks in clean melodies and processed grind, unforced emotion and manufactured horror..." Rob McLure, OppositionT. "Misterlee are erecting lonesome fences on the moon so explanetriate bathtub-punks will have a perch for howling at the earth. Climb up, the view's terrific" John Darnielle, Mountain Goats. Misterlee has enjoyed playing alongside - amongst others - Sebadoh, Mountain Goats, Jeffrey Lewis, Hamell on Trial, Johnny Dowd, David Thomas, Duke Special, Thomas Truax, Volcano the Bear and also some ace events like Summer Sundae Weekender, Stolen Recordings nights at The Spitz, Secret Garden Party festival and ResonanceFM sessions. Lee has also worked with Bill Drummond (the17), Wildbirds and Peacedrums (Ritual for Elephant and Castle), as a Damo Suzuki 'soundcarrier' and is also sticksman of choice to ska legend Prince Buster! Jamie Smith enjoys regular musical affiliations with Misterlee, also the Birmingham Improvisers Orchestra, FrImp and amongst others: Bruce Coates, Mark Sanders, Paul Dunmall, Mike Hurley, Chris Hobbs, Trevor Lines, Tony Marsh, Tony Bianco, Paul Rutherford, Aaron Moore, David Ryan, John Edwards, Paul Rogers, Tony Oxley, Simon Picard, Hilary Jeffrey, Miles Levin. Jamie also writes, records and releases through his own Owl House label.
