Mishkin Fitzgerald & The Chemical Perils are a Brighton-based collective led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mishkin Fitzgerald. Grace’s Cradle is their debut album release, and it combines elements of folk, punk, country, Goth, rock and even a little bit of Disney.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Scott Chalmers
Though this is my first time covering this act, Mishkin is known to these pages as part of the band Birdeatsbaby. Grace’s Cradle is a very personal collection of hers, speaking of her Christian background, and the ups and downs of leaving it in a dramatic fashion.
The album starts with Pink Elephants, a take on perhaps one of the quirkiest and most well-known of the Disney songbook, Elephants on Parade. The song originally features in Dumbo as a cautionary tale about alcohol. While Mishkin makes it her own in her version, there’s a lovely familiarity about it, and the message remains.
Legs Broken is a wonderfully playful piece of klezmer punk that will have you moving. For this project, Mishkin was inspired by her Greek grandmother and Legs Broken is rich with traditional, Jewish storytelling. Lou’s Song, a gentle, piano-led ballad, then slows things down. Blame rounds off the album’s first part with its punchy rawness and hard-hitting lyrics. It’s a highlight.
I Only Get What You Give Me sits at the heart of the album. A deviation into lonesome country, it’s a pleasant, heart-rendering surprise. Bleat gives us a blast of folk punk before Losing Susan slows things back down, with a focus on the track’s storytelling lyrics.
Himaar Miyet is perhaps the clearest tribute to traditional Jewish music, with a gripping, whimsical story. It’s another highlight. Grace’s Cradle is a defiant final number that sees Mishkin’s vulnerable vocals paired with piano. It captures the mood of the album perfectly, and its emotion will linger long after its last note is played.
This album is a wonderous mix of personal confession and vibrant storytelling. The mix of genres has you always guessing what will come next, in the best possible way. It’s an album that will have you laughing and crying. What more would you want? Grace’s Cradle is out via Not Saints, the UK’s only record label work with musicians recovering from addiction. You can listen to the whole album below.
