When it comes to somber, melancholy or bad moods is general, I would consider myself an expert. I tend to these moods so that they can flourish into full blown seasons within my own mind. A psychiatrist might say this is not the healthiest hobby, but I’m good at it and albums like Mercury from Graceland Gate aka Max Fletcher have the potential to assist me. This is an album focused on the cloudier emotions of human existence. It’s not all gloom and doom; there are definitely notes of romanticism and even optimism tucked away in the songs.
The music clings closely to Fletcher’s haunting vocals and bare bones guitar work. I would put Fletcher’s voice at the top of what makes this album work. He sits in a very low range, making his notes rich and engaging, it’s absolutely beautiful. Fletcher is also a strong writer who is not afraid to be epically vulnerable. The lyrics are introspective and take measure of entire situations, inside and out. It’s intriguing to say the least. The format for the songs is very fluid, designed mostly for storytelling. Overall the aesthetic is very inviting. I couldn’t help but get lost in my world of woe and take stock of my present situation. I have to give ample points to this album for be able to turn being bummed out into something tolerable and even interesting. As far as guitar goes, Fletcher knows what he’s doing from a technical standpoint. The album has six tracks, and the guitar riffs from each of those tracks sounded as though they could have all been in the same song. I needed more of a gear shift in one direction or another. My other hang up deals with my favorite part of the album, the vocals. Fletcher has a great ear for inflection and can hold a note like no one’s business. However there were some missteps. With the last three tracks in particular, I noticed he would use an inflection technique that came off a little too dramatic. These inflections only last for about two seconds, but it had a profound effect on me in a negative way. It goes from a lovely vocalist in pain, to a bad theater performance. Mercury is a mix of studio and home audio production. Whatever the formula might be, it worked. This album has all the loose ends tied up neatly. Rich sound throughout, and all hands involved understood the importance of letting that voice guide everything. A nice touch that came from the home recording portion is that you do get organic bird sounds on several of the tracks which was a charming touch, and the birds as well were given excellent production. They sound lovely. Graceland Gate has a lot of potential and this album is undeniable proof. There was a lot to love and genuinely enjoy. Despite what I considered hiccups, this album is worth a listen. I would say the album is accessible enough that you don’t have to have a doctorate in misery like me to enjoy it.
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