the Mystery Plan - Zsa Zsa (2020)

The Mystery Plan have announced their fifth album 'Zsa Zsa', which will be released via boutique label Ten Millimeter Omega Recordings. Ahead of this, they present the lead single 'Ballad of JC Quinn', following up their recently-released infectious Massive Attack-esque single 'Al Gore Rhythms'.

Produced by the legendary John Fryer and Jason Herring, this record also features such notable guests as Micah Gaugh (The Veldt / Apollo Heights), Ian Masters, That Guy Smitty and Snap Nation. This is not the first time The Mystery Plan has worked with Fryer, having previously collaborated on their fourth full-length release 'Queensland Ballroom', released in late 2017, and the 'Electric Love' single.
Based in Charlotte, NC, the band is comprised of Jason Herring, Amy Herring, Jeff Chester, Otis Hughes and Patty McLaughlin. Since forming in 2010, they've managed to release 10 EPs and LPs combined.

'Zsa Zsa' was recorded at Catalyst Recording and various local studios over a 2+ year stretch following a number of Southeast U.S. tours in promotion of the band's 'Queensland Ballroom' album. This new record touches of several different styles - everything from deep mellow shoegaze and folky ambient to upbeat dancable trip-hop and electronica.

'Zsa Zsa' finds the quintet moving further afield of its earlier psych-folk leaning to land on something more akin to the down-tempo approach of Portishead and Zero 7, mixed with early 4AD action. That later is in no small part due to the return of band collaborator, producer John Fryer (too many A-list credits to list here), and new Mystery Plan friend Ian Masters, former bassist-vocalist of influential British shoegazers Pale Saints.