Mess Esque is a collaboration between Helen Franzmann (McKisko) and Mick Turner (Dirty Three). Recording began remotely during lockdown in 2020 between Turner in Melbourne and Franzmann in Brisbane and resulted in two albums to be released in 2021. The first “Dream#12” in March on Bedroom suck records ‘Private Eye’ series of lockdown recordings. The second album, “Mess Esque” (self-titled), due for release later in 2021 on Milk! Records in Australia and Drag City records in Europe and North America.
Helen sings and Mick plays guitar and more.
Mick Turner is a founding member of Dirty Three and also a member of Tren brothers, Moodists, Venom P Stinger and Fungus brains to name a few, and as a solo performer he has released 5 albums on Drag City records in USA. As well he has recorded and played live with Nick Cave, Kurt Vile, Courtney Barnett, Cat Power, Bonnie Prince Billy, Bill Callaghan amongst others.
“Mick Turner is transfixing, mesmerising, enigmatic and brilliant.” - Beat Magazine
Helen Franzmann has released three records under the moniker McKisko. She has supported acts such as Jose Gonzales, Perfume Genius, Bon Iver, Jenny Hval and J. Mascis. She was awarded the Grant McLennan Fellowship for her songwriting.
"..her voice is so full of raw intensity that it packs a heart-rending punch.” “totally engaging and thoroughly exhilarating" - Sydney Morning Herald
“A collaboration between Mick Turner of Dirty Three fame and Helen Franzmann aka McKisko, Dream#12 is a slow burning, yet, deeply affecting affair. The pairing is truly a blissful combination, Mick’s exploratory guitar playing provides a rich landscape for Helen’s tender lyricism and fragility. The whole thing threatens to fall over at any moment, but manages to keep trucking along with determination, punctuated with sparse, improvisatory drum arrangements.” - Krishan Meepe, Trouble Juice
“Turner & Franzmann are visionaries -their music guides through deep reflection and internal worlds. The tense and dizzy, disorienting quality of closing track False Mirror is perhaps the exact crossover and combining of both artist’s sensibilities. It achieves a perfect balance, equal parts allusion to shadows within as illusions beyond. Predisposition aside Dream #12 charts entirely new territory. In tandem they produce a debut unafraid of the dark, of uplifting and hopeful experimentation.” - Chris Preindl, 4ZZZ New Releases
