Imagine you’re on the bus. It’s very crowded and you’re standing, flanked by a screaming baby and an unstable, smelly drunk. With your headphones on, the music is the only thing separating you from this intrusive world and its noise – you couldn’t be further away from everyone, even though you’re only physically separated from them by a few inches.

That’s when you should listen to Mishka’s new album. Press play and you may as well be on the beach, sipping a Tequila Sunrise with one of those tiny umbrellas. And no, this is not a detergent commercial, the kind that transforms your bedroom into a forest or something. Seriously, just press play.


Mishka’s forth album, "Talk About", was released, just like the previous one, "Above the Bones", through j.k. livin' Records - Mathew McConaughey’s label. I would have never pictured McConaughey as a fan of reggae and yet Mishka is the only artist who's signed with him. Wise choice Matt. This album is a sweet yet funky combination of reggae, pop and some more pop, with words that seem co-written by Yoda, Ghandi and their newest acquaintance Mary Jane, while they were chilling on the already mentioned beach. And all that is actually a compliment! From 'Give Them Love', the first song off the album, to 'Way Out of Babylon', 'Talk About' covers all the basics of good old reggae: it’s got the skank & the riddim, trumpets and bongos, the protection of Jah and a scent of weed. “Homegrown”, of course. You know, to reduce the carbon footprint.

But what actually makes this album remarkable is the way it combines all that with pop, without sounding commercial or artificial. It’s like the lovechild of Motown, Bob Marley and Sting. I don’t know why Sting, I guess it’s because the song 'Bittersweet' awkwardly reminds me of 'Invisible Sun'. Also, it’s got an incredibly positive vibe, without sounding cheesy or overly romantic, even when it talks about love, justice, and equality, or when it says things like “Why worry yourself with what you don't have? / Give thanks for what you do / Oh, why so many thoughts of tomorrow? / When today is shinning here for you!” (“Fallen to Rise”).

Now, Mishka’s album won’t change your life. Don’t expect any revelations when you listen to it, but you know what it does do? It makes you feel good. It makes you feel like a main character in your own movie, where everything is as simple as “There is strength / Strength in unity”, and even all the random stuff that’s happening to you every day seems to somehow make sense.

Well, unless you’re unlucky enough to be a character in “Synecdoche, New York”. Then, my friend, I'm afraid all the Mishka's in the world won't be able to help you on this one.