One Eleven Heavy’s Nick Mitchell Maiato’s tightened take on Cosmic Americana highlights all of the best qualities of this nebulous genre. This is perhaps most evident on his new album, Náquera, which goes heavy on the choogle, while still gleaming with ear-catching hooks and hyper-focused songwriting. This is Mitchell displaying his ability to create radio friendly music that doesn’t betray his head heritage nor his love for jamming. This winning combination of the loose and the carefully constructed makes songs like the very James Gang-like opening cut, “Two Right Feet,” or the following track, the rollicking slice of honky-tonk that is “Critical Mass,” especially righteous tunes. The sound on this record might be the closest Mitchell has come to sounding like One Eleven Heavy as a purely solo artist. The contributions of former members James Toth and Hans Chew certainly helps. Yet, this album goes even further into the weeds of country rock music than OEH ever attempted.
This is a fun record full of grooving ear candy that fans of the Grateful Dead, Sir Douglas Quintet and Leon Russel would immediately love. With bouncy upbeat rhythms, classically addictive melodies and heaps of roadhouse band charm, the songs here feel like the very essence of stoned Americana music, and rough and tumble good times. This particular aspect of the record is just one of several ways that it’s linked to the Dead’s influence. Songs like “Riki Rachtman,” with its twinkling Keith Godchaux-like piano work, warm pedal steel and sweet harmonies, rambles and chugs along like a lost Europe 72 cut. Yet, perhaps the most unexpected connection to the legacy of Jerry and the gang, is the guest appearance of Bob Bralove, former midi-engineer and auxiliary musician for the Dead, who cut a searing organ solo on “Critical Mass.”
Yet the most noticeable shift in Mitchell’s music is the addition of horns that adorn this record ever so tastefully. The 70’s country rock vibe of this album absolutely welcomes the brass, especially on “The Angle,” which feels close to something Allen Toussaint would have contributed to a swinging Robbie Robertson tune. The touch of soul from these horns is the icing on the cake that is the party vibe of Náquera.
Grab yourself a copy and join the party today.
