Mike Ross Releases his Strong, Sardonic, Double A-side Digital Single: ‘The Only Place You Ever Take Me Is Down’ and Premieres Video

25th June 2021 0 By Jon Deaux

Ever-creative and industrious, multi-talented composer, performer and musician, and Blues Rock, wizard, Mike Ross is releasing his very latest single: ‘The Only Place You Ever Take Me Is Down’. Released today 25th June, the digital 45 is a double A-sider, featuring both ‘The Only Place You Ever Take Me Is Down’ (ACOUSTIC)’ from Mike’s recent album ‘The Clovis Limit Tennessee Transition’ AND ‘The Only Place You Ever Take Me Is Down’ (ELECTRIC)’ from his previous album ‘The Clovis Limit Part 2’, thus bringing together two strikingly different interpretations of the track.

Mike Ross today premieres a A unique ‘mash-up’ video featuring sections from each of the electric and acoustic versions is available

Again, Mike proves himself the master of sharp, even savvy, cutting, sardonic lyrics, matched with engaging melodies and strong Blues-Rocky musicianship, with catchy hooks that have their own bite.

Not to mince words, ’The Only Place You Ever Take Me Is Down’ is a song about being irked and irritated by someone (N.B. an imaginary someone, Mike stresses!)

With tongue firmly in cheek, the song zooms into sharp close-up and focuses on a negative, even toxic, relationship and interactions, where one person is constantly being interrupted, carped at, criticised or belittled by someone else, to the point where it feels like some kind of curse or disease. The song’s lyrics echo the edge in Mike’s earlier song ‘None of Your Business’, where smart-Alec buttinskis, know-it-alls, and compulsive critics came it for a devastating Mike Ross counterblast.

The electric version of The Only Place You Ever Take Me Is Down’ has a Lennon & McCartney-esque feel to its double-tracked solos and a clever backflip in the lyrics to the coda – reversing the roles to redress the balance of the narrative.

By contrast, the acoustic version (dubbed ‘a rootin tootin hairy hoedown’ by Planet Mosh) is shorter and meaner, with a gritty, no-holds-barred Delta wail of a vocal performance and taut, sparing guitar lines.

Speaking of the decision to release the track as a double A-sider,featuring both acoustic AND electric versions, Mike says, “Like a lot of my songs, ‘Take Me Down’ can be interpreted in multiple ways, and I think that the difference between the overlaid and double-tracked electric version on ‘Clovis 2’ and the ‘none-more-stripped-back’ approach of the ‘Tennessee Transition’ rendition illustrates that point very nicely!”

Mike’s recent album, The Clovis Limit Tennessee Transition’, has charted in the IBBA charts (Independent Blues Broadcasters Association) What’s more, the album made the IBBA Presenters’ Albums Picks of the Month for June ’21.

The ‘Tennessee Transition’ followed confidently in the swaggering virtuoso wake of Mike’s critically-acclaimed solo album: ‘The Clovis Limit Pt.2’: a 10-track, all-singing, all-rocking, multi-talented tour de force, made of 24-carat win. ‘The Tennessee Transition’ is a strong album in its own right, yet stands as a perfect foil and companion to Mike’s acclaimed ‘Clovis Limits’ album duology.

For Blues in Britain, “’The Tennessee Transition’ perfectly captures the intensity and intimacy of Mike’s solo shows, the power and emotion of bare-boned song holding player and listener rapt.”

Mike is also proud to announce a Special Double-Headline Show with Matt Pearce & The Mutiny, upstairs at The Garage at The Grace, in Highbury, on November 9th!
A Double Dose of Funky Rock & Rockin’ Blues from two Blues Charting artists!

Ticket link: https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/matt-pearce-the-mutiny-the-grace-tickets/11142105

Check out Mike’s return to touring, and his website for updates, ‘The Clovis Limits – Tennessee Transition’ and its parent album duology. And of course, ’The Only Place You Ever Take Me Is Down’, which is sure to lift you up!

Out now on all digital platforms https://bit.ly/3zWNfMK