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MERMAID KISS

Crossover Prog • United Kingdom


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Mermaid Kiss picture
Mermaid Kiss biography
Mermaid Kiss as a working band began in 2000 after Evelyn DOWNING (vocals, flute) and Jamie FIELD (Guitars) recorded some songs at The Goat Shed studio of Andrew GARMAN (Keyboard, Bass, Percussion) and decided to continue to work together as a studio band. Taking their name from one of their early songs, the band released the eponymous 'Mermaid Kiss Album' in 2003, which resulted in request for the band to play live supporting KARNATAKA in 2004.

In 2006, while Evelyn DOWNING was away at university, the remaining band members recorded an ep 'Salt on Skin' with Kate BELCHER and Kate EMERSON joining Evelyn in performing lead vocals.

In June 2007 the band released an album called 'Etarlis', a series of musical illustrations for a story written by Jamie and Evelyn. For this album the line-up was joined by Wendy MARKS (Woodwind) and Richard NORTHWOOD (Bass), with guest appearances from Guest performances from Troy DONOCKLEY (IONA) and Jonathan EDWARDS (PANIC ROOM & KARNATAKA)

Coming from a long history of UK female-fronted melodic rock bands, MERMAID KISS fill that crossover niche between Neo Prog of MAGENTA and the Prog Folk of KARNATAKA fused with the radio-friendly Pop of ALL ABOUT EVE.

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MERMAID KISS discography


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MERMAID KISS top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 9 ratings
The Mermaid Kiss Album
2003
3.85 | 17 ratings
Etarlis
2007
4.33 | 13 ratings
Another Country
2012

MERMAID KISS Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

MERMAID KISS Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

MERMAID KISS Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

MERMAID KISS Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.29 | 7 ratings
Salt On Skin
2006

MERMAID KISS Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Another Country by MERMAID KISS album cover Studio Album, 2012
4.33 | 13 ratings

BUY
Another Country
Mermaid Kiss Crossover Prog

Review by ProgShine
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

5 stars Mermaid Kiss is an English band that was formed in 2000 by Jamie Field (acoustic guitars) and Evelyn Downing (vocals). Another Country (2012) is their 3rd full length album and they also have an EP released.

In 2009 I interviewed the band for my old Progshine website and they were working on a new project called 'American Images'. Time passed without me realizing and in October 2012 I remembered, out of the blue, about the band and went to their website to see what was the news. To my surprise Another Country (2012) had just been released, so I sent an e-mail to Jamie that gave me a download code for the album a week later or so. Time passed again, many personal changes, but Another Country (2012) was always in my cell phone to be played over and over again.

The band that recorded the album was, of course, the couple Evelyn Downing (vocals and flute) and Jamie Field (acoustic guitars). But they also had Wendy Marks (flute, cor anglais, oboe, recorder and harmony vocals), Pete West (acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitars and backing vocals), Colin Henney (keyboards) and Steve White (drums and percussion) in their line-up.

Another Country (2012) is, in fact, an old project that was pushed aside for many years. In 2008 the band decided to finally finish it. The album then took four years to be completed but unfortunately it was only released in Digital formats. Also have in mind that Another Country (2012) isn't a pure Prog Rock album. Mermaid Kiss has never been completely on that path anyway. But you'll find many interesting Prog moments like in 'This Trail Of Tears'. Although neither Jamie nor Evelyn went to the USA, the fantastic images the country always projected into people's minds made them write the album anyway. It ended up being a wonderful, beautiful and kind of melancholic album.

'Frontier' starts the album, a short intro and you can already feel what's coming. Another Country (2012) is in majority an acoustic album, Americana style. Commanded by acoustic guitars, flutes, piano and the touching Evelyn vocals, Mermaid Kiss evokes images and possible situations and wishes. Although the album is mainly acoustic, the band was smart enough to add many electric guitar solos by Pete West. They also recorded many harmony vocals in the songs.

The main songs on Another Country (2012) are 'Circles Of Fire', 'Dust Bowl Ride', 'Rhonda And The Paper Crane', 'L.A. Aria', 'Scissored Ground', 'Ghost Rider', 'This Trail Of Tears' and 'Comes And Goes'. In the middle of the songs, creating the scene, we also have some small interludes.

Unfortunately, Mermaid Kiss is not a very known band and Another Country (2012) went out a bit unnoticed. Which is a big mistake. The band achieved something very rare nowadays, made the music that touches you, that touches your heart, not just a technical display of musicianship or another sequence of notes that you've listened to many times before. Another Country (2012) is an album that you should listen to many times and savor it calmly.

Evelyn decided that this would be her last album with the band as she's leaving them amicably. Jamie will keep writing and keep recording with the band, which he should do. But before they do that, don't waste your time and go for Another Country (2012), a superb piece of music!

(Originally posted on progshine.net)

 The Mermaid Kiss Album by MERMAID KISS album cover Studio Album, 2003
3.00 | 9 ratings

BUY
The Mermaid Kiss Album
Mermaid Kiss Crossover Prog

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars UK band Mermaid Kiss emerged in early-00's in Kington out of the collaboration between female singer/flutist Evelyn Downing and guitarist Jamie Field, when the two begun writing songs for their own amusement.All these until they entered Andrew Garman's (bass, keyboards, drums) The Goat Shed Studio to record a couple of soundtracks for local projects.The collaboration with Garman was so entertaining the three musicians decided to work together unter the Mermaid Kiss name.This would led to the first independent production of the group in 2003, ''The Mermaid Kiss album''.

In fact Mermaid Kiss are like no other band you've met in the Progressive Rock field and basically ''The Mermaid Kiss album'' is an Art Pop album with minor prog sensibilities.The songs are strongly based on the beautiful and ethereal vocals of Downing and the rather minimilastic background instrumental music, which stylistically differs from track to track.However there is a light Neo Prog atmosphere throughout the release, much in the vein of TRACY HITCHINGS or KARNATAKA, but the major influence here seems to be KATE BUSH and here intense, lyrical style.The short pieces on this album have a very deep atmosphere with a strong emotional and melodic content.Guitars and bass are used sporadically and most of the music is driven by soaring synths and light piano passages along with the (rather programmed) drums.Very mellow and relaxing stuff indeed, but the incredible vocals of Downing are a unique experience alone.Additionally most of these pieces have a slightly orchestral mood and a ballad-esque atmosphere, but more in an artistic way, very far from syrupy and dull approaches.

For the die-hard Classic Prog fan, who starves for some technical performances, ''The Mermaid Kiss Album'' is propably not a great choice.However, if your heart still beats for some emotional, sensitive and rewarding Art Pop/Rock, this album is definitely a winner.Recommended.

 Another Country by MERMAID KISS album cover Studio Album, 2012
4.33 | 13 ratings

BUY
Another Country
Mermaid Kiss Crossover Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

4 stars Mermaid Kiss started back in 2000 when Evelyn Downing (vocals, harmony vocals, flute) and Jamie Field (acoustic guitar) met in a studio, and decided to form a songwriting partnership. Over the years they have used different musicians, and even a different singer while Evelyn completed her degree, but this is their last album together as Evelyn is moving on while Jamie is going to be continuing with the band. This album is the culmination of their 'American Images' project, and is full of Americana and in some ways is very English in feel and in others not at all. They were joined here by Wendy Marks (flute, cor anglais, oboe, recorder, harmony vocals), Pete West (acoustic, electric and bass guitars, harmony vocals), Colin Henney (keyboards) and Steve White (drums), and the result is a very special album indeed. I have managed to play this in the car with both my 15 year old daughter and my wife present at different times to no complaints, which is high praise indeed given what they normally think of the music I write about. That is down to the match of Evelyn's vocals, which come across as a mix of Talis Kimberley, Cath Mundy and Judie Tzuke, with wonderful instrumentation. It is very layered and complex yet is also simple in its' approach, with the vocals very much at the front. I can play "Rhonda and the Paper Crane" all day as the combination of the story that is told with the music and vocals just seems 'right'. No more, and no less than that. There are a few short interludes where piano and cor anglais combine in a harmony that is reflective and full of emotion, and again they work extremely well indeed.

I can honestly say that I have played this album far more than I usually do before writing about it, and it is certainly worth investigation if you enjoy wonderful female vocals with powerful songs. For more details on how to download this and their other albums then visit the site at www.mermaidkiss.co.uk

 Etarlis by MERMAID KISS album cover Studio Album, 2007
3.85 | 17 ratings

BUY
Etarlis
Mermaid Kiss Crossover Prog

Review by toroddfuglesteg

4 stars Well, why is I am the first one to write a review of a Mermaid Kiss album here in PA ?

Mermaid Kiss is a female lead English band. Yes, I know. England swarms over with female vocals lead English bands. But Mermaid Kiss is not quite like the other bands. First of all, they are far less commercial than most of the other bands. The Mermaid Kiss sound is much more organic, in fact. It is also more based on acoustic instruments. But they are not exactly a chamber prog aka Aranis either. There is plenty of electric instrumentations here. Neither is they are symphonic as the likes of Rennaissance either. The female vocals of Evelyn Downing is not particular operatic either. Evelyn Downing sings in a far more clean voice. I would almost brand her vocals as Irish in many ways.

My knowledge of other English female lead groups is very limited to say at least. I normally runs a mile when they arrive in my neighborhood........ away from them, that is. But Mermaid Kiss reminds me a lot about Mostly Autumn, Iona and a bit about Magenta. In the interview I did with them, Karnataka was also listed by the mainman as an obvious reference. It is not easy to pinpoint this band.

On this album, they are also all over the place with a lot of symphonic prog mixed with Keltic rock and some stuff I recognice from Kate Bush's Sensual World album too. And Kate Bush is a good reference too when it comes to this album. But as I said, finding a reference for this album is not easy. This album is very varied, style wise.

Most of the album is based on and wrapped around Evelyn Downing's excellent vocals. With an asset like her, no wonder. The other instrumentations is a careful, tasteful use of guitars, piano, synths, bass, drums, flute, woodwinds and some other acoustic instrument. Everything done with finesse and good taste. The songs are also long and there is a lot of things going on at the same time.

The quality is great throughout. A lack of a true killer track is my only gripe. But the songs are still great with A Sea Change and Nowhere To Hide as the two standout tracks on an album with no real bad tracks.

For me, Mermaid Kiss is a great discovery and so is this album. It is a truly great album which deserves to be discovered by many others too.

4 stars

Thanks to Dean for the artist addition.

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