MERMAID KISS

— First review of this album —

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

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