Flying in the face of earthly convention, Mr. Meeble issues a warning to everyone who checks out their indie début album: "Never Trust The Chinese" (Jun 2008, Absolute Motion). Between its title and content - this trio’s sensual and soulful pop meets dark electronica record is bound to drop jaws, turn heads and offend, oh, maybe about a billion people.
But it’s nothing personal… well, except for the one nameless female who inspired this collection of songs that tell stories of the denial and despair of lost love, personal accountability, remembering, mourning and finally, just maybe, a glimmer of hope.
Like their nearest ‘sounds kinda like’ cousins, Mr. Meeble incorporates both stellar instrumental work and an ethos of lyrical authenticity. Reminiscent of fellow French band Air, NTTC has moments of smooth, breathy vocals over spacey synths, chilled-out Rhodes and orchestral strings. At other times, it sounds similar to Thom Yorke’s Eraser with its emotive, pained vocals over minimal, tense electronics. Those familiar with Massive Attack’s Mezzanine will identify with NTTC’s dark, plodding and ominous vibe. The curious mix of stops, glitches, pops, whizzes, bleeps, stutters, and scratches together with sweeping, sometimes unnerving, visceral emotion is as close to opposites becoming singularly effective as you will find in music, or any art form, for that matter.
Named after an accidental sound made from Styrofoam, Mr. Meeble has developed a hybrid style so unique that critics are having to dig deep into their creative well to describe it. Jason Farrell, of Fender Guitars, hits the nail on the head when he says of Chinese: “At once deliciously vintage and über-futuristic, Mr. Meeble conjures up the comforting subconscious sounds of 70’s one hit wonders mashed within songs destined for next millennium’s soundtrack for space travel… modern, filmy and altogether otherworldly.” Scott Lemerand adds: “This is the music of rust colored skylines and forgotten alleys, the shimmering reflection of streetlights in rain puddles… that exists outside the stereo, it manipulates the mind and brings forth images both eerie and enjoyable. While NTTC is, in one vein, a very unusual, experimental record, it is also a very smart pop record. This is pop music for people who don’t like pop music.”
Mr. Meeble was born as an electronic echo of the cosmos for those who are to travel through it, and not because any one member professes to being an accomplished musician. They are all native Parisians who met through their work developing Styrofoam accessories for the French National Space Agency (CNES). When cosmonauts in the CNES requested music for their maiden voyage, Devin Fleenor volunteered for the project and recruited Blain Klitzke and Michael Plaster. "Releasing albums and playing concerts was an unexpected consequence of our work. Our primary allegiance will always be to the CNES," proclaims Fleenor, who is the band’s front man, producer, and vocalist. “We're noise manglers and sound benders," explains Klitzke, evoking an image of the trio dressed in lab coats, maniacally assaulting a phonograph with an assortment of bizarre utensils and melted rubber. He and Plaster provide the rich, intricately placed mortar to Fleenor’s track-building vision; Klitzke co-produces, designs sounds, and crafts beats, while Plaster contributes with lyrics and songwriting.
The first track on Never Trust the Chinese, “Fine”, introduces listeners to the band by featuring Devin’s faraway, dreamy vocals explaining away his inevitable cynicism within a cushy, extremely hum-able melody. “Dragonfly” is a more upbeat, optimistic tune displaying the album’s lighter pop and soul sensibilities. The blissful mix of instruments and quirky vocal arrangements are not unlike their retro-rocking, electronics-infused counterpart, Stereolab. Moby and his use of vintage blues elements comes to mind with “It All Came to Pass”. The song issues forth a slow, lamenting, soul-filled groove founded on an unpredictable beat that meanders into bursts of electronic bites, evoking an image of a New Orleans Bayou thrust a century into the future. The emotional apex of NTTC is “A Ton Of Bricks,” where the calm of an amazing love is slowly smashed into bits by chaos and pain. “The lyrics are dark, introspective, vulnerable, and simple without sounding common or cliché,” says Fleenor. “The album runs like a progression of feeling imminent doom, to that doom hitting you straight in the head, and on through the aftermath.”
Whether it is the lifelong battle between practicality and ideology within the human soul; the disparities concerning men vs. women; or the epic struggle between life and death, our desires, proclivities, and emotions are significantly influenced by the push and pull of every day dualities. Experimental bands like Mr. Meeble add to the stockpile of yin and yang in our brains via an auditory profusion of diverse implications. “It is a dichotomy of extremes: both futuristic and retro, both technical and organic, both earthy and otherworldly,” says Fleenor, “We’re bringing two very different worlds together: the world of electronica, founded on space age sounds and cutting edge French technology, and the world of pop/rock where artists connect with listeners through strong melodies and down to earth lyrics. Sometimes it’s very minimal and pristine; sometimes a chaotic tsunami of sound.” The diverse fearlessness of their music is a fitting representation of who they are: like the original beneficiaries of their sound, Mr. Meeble is set on breaking away from earthbound restrictions.
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Fine
Mr. Meeble Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My foundation seems unmade
In a step I could be blown away
Words are playing in my head
I've forgotten what you said
For a moment
Then I'm reminded
I'm just so cynical at times
No need to wonder if I'm fine
I used to have no hope but now I'm really trying
And though I feel I can't go on sometimes
I should be happy and thank god
That I can live and I can breathe
And I can find the way and know that I'm fine
Moving closer standing still
Am I changing? am I the same?
Destination lost and found for me
Words colliding in my head
But I remember what you said
For the moment, I feel free
The lyrics of the song "Fine" by Mr. Meeble are about the inner turmoil of a person who is feeling lost and unsure of themselves. The song talks about feeling worn down and like their foundation is unsteady. The use of the phrase "blown away" highlights the fragility of the person's mental state. The lyrics also touch upon the idea of forgotten words and thoughts colliding in their head, indicating a sense of confusion and a lack of clarity.
Despite all of this, the person insists that they are "fine." However, the lyrics also reveal that this is not entirely true, as the person is "cynical at times" and struggles to find hope. They acknowledge that they feel like they can't go on sometimes, but they are trying. The song ends on a slightly more positive note, with the person acknowledging that they can live, breathe, and find their way.
One interesting aspect of "Fine" is how it juxtaposes feelings of fragility and uncertainty with a determination to keep going. The lyrics suggest that it's possible to feel lost and overwhelmed but still find a way forward by holding onto hope and the belief that things will get better. The song also touches upon themes of mental health and the importance of acknowledging and talking about one's struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Feeling blurred, worn and thin
I am overwhelmed and exhausted.
My foundation seems unmade
I feel unstable and uncertain.
In a step I could be blown away
I feel vulnerable and in danger of losing control.
Words are playing in my head
I am overthinking things and can't stop worrying.
I've forgotten what you said
I feel disconnected and can't remember important advice given to me.
For a moment
I experience brief periods of relief.
Then I'm reminded
But my worries and anxieties quickly return.
Despite the things I say I'm fine
I am trying to convince myself and others that I'm okay.
I'm just so cynical at times
But my negative thinking often gets in the way of feeling content.
No need to wonder if I'm fine
Others shouldn't worry about me because I'm putting on a facade.
I used to have no hope but now I'm really trying
I am making an effort to improve my situation and outlook on life.
And though I feel I can't go on sometimes
Still, I struggle with feelings of hopelessness and despair.
I should be happy and thank god
I recognize that I have blessings in my life and should appreciate them.
That I can live and I can breathe
Being alive and healthy is something to be grateful for.
And I can find the way and know that I'm fine
I believe that I will be able to overcome my struggles and find peace.
Moving closer standing still
I feel stuck and am not making progress in my life.
Am I changing? am I the same?
I am questioning whether I am growing as a person or staying stagnant.
Destination lost and found for me
Despite the confusion, I am hopeful that I will eventually find my way.
Words colliding in my head
My thoughts are jumbled and chaotic.
But I remember what you said
Although I forget things, certain words of wisdom stick with me.
For the moment, I feel free
Sometimes, I have moments where I am at peace and am able to let go of my worries.
Contributed by Miles V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@robocopvomit21
whoa! still love this song
@WillyWonkaIsSatanic
Actually, after having this song get stuck in my head and listening to it a half dozen more times, I like it more and more. At this point I must have listened to it 20 times in the past week, so I'll retract my previous comment and give Monsieur Meeble my thanks for gracing us with this song. Thank you sir.
@dreamtheaterz28
The live version is Infinitly better than the record. This version almost brings tears to my eyes. I can only speculate on how this would fill a person standing infront of you as you played, with all the visuals and atmosphear flooding the senses all at once. Beautiful.
@texierAndre
I really really love this song, very melodic, you dont hear new good music like this everyday , a big hug for you Mr Meeble!
@ikeyote
I am floored. Beautiful sound, hypnotic. from a fellow musician, thank you, i can feel the effort.
@silver1riot
when i first discovered this song i showed everybody i could think of, replaying the song over and over throughout many days.This song still amazes me i love it! ittl never get old
@DESsid
I tripped across this song over seven months ago at which time I replayed this song for days. I've come back to it and feel the same out of body experience I did the first time--MrMeeble, you are a genius.
@carve530
This track is epic.. Thank you Meeble for all the great music! :)
@Elnono306
refreshing sounds for this kind of music. Thanks a lot.
@cidabox
This is my beloved version of this song.