Search - Mermaid Kiss :: Etarlis

The World of Etarlis--a story-telling album

Soaring Heart | 07/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ok, first things first. I'm not really good at giving reviews of anything, period. especially music. What I hear, think, or feel from a song or album is hard for me to put into words. Ask me about say, Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon", and I'd probably reply "great album". Although it is so much more, and means so much more to me. Now, it may be a bit easier for me to do on an album that's a collection of "single" songs, as opposed to an album that a collection comprising an entire story. I make mention of this because I'm about to discuss the latest album from the UK band, Mermaid Kiss, which is titled "Etarlis". Going in, I already know that I will not be doing the album justice with what I'm about to write.



Not too long ago, I came across this wonderful band. Couldn't even say today how that came about. Just that I'm glad it did. :-) I heard several songs they had on their Myspace website Mermaid Kiss at Myspace , and made the no-brainer choice of ordering the two cd's they had released to date, the self-titled "Mermaid Kiss", and "Salt On Skin". Since both were to be to me from overseas, I had a few days at least to go through their Myspace page, and also their official website, Official Website, and learn more about the band, and the music they've created. With various guest appearance's by many other terrific musicians and vocalist Kate Emerson, the core of the band today is Jamie Field, Evelyn Downing, Andrew Garman, Nigel Hooten, along with Kate Belcher. From their two websites, and through e-mails from Jamie himself, I learned that they were in the process of releasing their third album, "Etarlis".



When both cd's arrived, I immediately played them several times, completely taken in by what I was hearing. Highest quality of musicianship, terrific vocalizing, strong song writing, and above all, enjoyable, meaningful, music. Even more appreciated upon more playing of both disc's. Going back to each website, I began learning what the forthcoming album would be, and also pre-ordered it.



Etarlis it seemed, would be music inspired by, and written for, a story that Jamie and Evelyn created over time, while passing time. A short briefing of the storyline would be that it's of two friends on an adventrous travel, who wind up in a mine/cave. Wandering through, the come out into the world of Etarlis. Continuing on, both the story and the music tell of the affects this has on both the friends, and the people they meet, and of the learning and trials they come to face. It's really unfolding as a terrific story, and, Evelyn especially, has put much into creating an entire website dedicated to the story and the music. I'd recommend stopping by and giving it a very thorough reading at Etarlis Website.



The Etarlis cd arrived roughly a week or so ago. I myself found it outstanding upon my first listening. Like the previous releases, all the vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation sounded absolutely perfect. But, there is so much more to it really. With further listens, you become familiar with how much depth to the music there actually is. Notes not heard on an intial play, suddenly appear on another. There are so many layers of sound to be taken in. The flow of the music and songs, while quite well at the beginning, become even more fluid during each listen. Oh, and not to forget, there's still a wonderful story being told throughout. :-)



The Etarlis cd opens with "Prelude". A very orchestral number, that seems to set a forboding tone. Ending with a piano break, that leads into "A Different Sky". This song has a feel of nervousness at the beginning, leading into a sense of wonderment. the lyric's are a great reflection and accompanyment to that feeling, with some fine electric guitar playing, and also some guitar strings that sound a bit of spanish influenced. Following this is "Walking With Ghosts" opening with some beautiful woodwind/flute playing, and continuing through, it's a song that gives has a very quiet relaxed feel to it. Also, within the storyline, the lyric's hold significant meaning as well. I really love Evelyn's flute having an abruptness at the end. Next up is "Dark Cover" ( Is on the Myspace player ) which opens in a very haunting style. Another highlight for me here was how Evelyn almost reaches a screaming in her singing on certain key words in the lyric's, adding an almost impatient, begging quality to it. Also within this track is some excellant, Gilmour-esque guitar playing by Nigel Hooten. Following next is "Nowhere To Hide", a song I'll list as a very image creating one, also the first song on the album with Kate Belcher doing the lead vocals. Opens with what could be pictured as an ancient tribe playing music on with skulls and bones, thrown in with a bit of techno sound. both musically and vocally, to me this song seemed to build from Kate's vocals sounding somewhat fearful, and the music slowly building from a patient, questioning sound, to the sound of something impemding, with a moment of quietness, then Boom, back to something fearful. the ending reminds me of a vision of overlooking the aftermath of some kind of disaster. Next song is "Siren Song" (also found on their Myspace player) which is also sung with Kate on lead vocals. The feeling I get from this is a voice that is sorrowful/fantasy like. Kate really has a terrific voice lending itself to storytelling. With my eye's closed, I had the feeling of a seaside-esque landscape, the kind you'd see a fisherman on a wharf, perhaps playing some kind of instrument. At it's end is a few piano notes conveying a feeling of sadness. This leads to "A Sea Change", which is actually a 5 part song, each part being unique, yet all blending together. Evelyn opens with some very classical, operatic vocalizing, then having some electric/celtic sounds moving to Troy Donockley's Uilleann Pipes and then some more great singing by Evelyn into a terrific keyboard segment that sets an adventurous tone, performed by ex-Karnataka keyboardist Jonathan Edwards. "Shadow Girl" follows, with Kate once again on lead vocals, singing in a way that conveys a very introspective feeling. Adding to that is some beautiful flute playing by Evelyn. All creating a scene of looking down upon a fantasy land at night, and toward the end, Kate's singing is like overseeing story charecters, drifting away as if you were just told a bedtime story. Absolutely terrific. :-) "Beat The Drum" is next, with the drum beat setting the pace by coming in low, and then getting louder and seems to quicken, followed by a beautiful, piercing guitar. Evelyn's vocals grab you as if saying "Listen to what I have to say", and you dutifully oblige. towards the end is some more beautiful keyboards. Nest to last song on the album is "Crayola Skies" a very strong "statement" song that should be closely listened to, sung almost angelically by Evelyn, who portrays a sadness to it as well. It closes with some slow, mellow piano notes at it's end. Closiing the album (not the story BTW) is "The City Of Clouds(Qway-Lin)" An epic-type song that sounds very mystical, ancient, at it's beginningand features some whispery vocals, entrancing keyboards, racing guitar, some choir sounding keyboards, and fading into an end without coming to an end. This song itself is a journey, and one of my favorite parts id Evelyn's "storytelling" part which is akin to sitting down a listening to a classical reading. I found that part of the song particularly GREAT!



Should anyone (hopefully everyone) decide to buy the album, which can be ordered directly from Mermaid Kiss on either website, I'd like to recommend at least once listening to it while on the Etarlis website. This allows you to read along the lyrics, while also allowing you to read the sidenotes of how the song fit's in with the story itself.



In closing, I'd like to once again say that anything I've written will not do the album justice. You may also notice that for almost each song, I described a "feeling" conveyed. That is perhaps the biggest statement I'd like to make about it. You 'feel" it. that's part of what makes up great music. :-)



A big thank you to Jamie, for all his kindness and insight, to Evelyn for the terrific job on the Etarlis website and the updating of the official Mermaid Kiss website, and to the band as a whole, including all the guests making appearnces, for creating such wonderful music for people to hear. Keep up the great work. I'll always look forward to what you will create, while always listening back to what has been created.



Thanks everyone!

- Bill from Jersey



posted with permission from Bill

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