Gregory Robson
07/08/08, 06:33 AM
Mermaid Skeletons - Darlings EP
Record Label: Triple Stamp Records
Release Date: July 1, 2008
The most surprising thing about Richmond, VA folk band Mermaid Skeleton’s new EP Darlings is the quiet contained within. For a band, which comprises eight people and a litany of instruments, there’s actually a fair amount of sparse instrumentation and subdued grace packed within these six songs. It’s folk music at its very core, so much so, that the effort feels very much like a singer/songwriter solo project rather than a collaborative effort.
Vocalist and lyricist Joshua Hryciak is the obvious centerpoint as his wispy, breathy voice call to mind Sam Beam and Toronto’s Hayden. Inspired by a love of Rogers and Hammerstein, fantasy, and Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies series, Darlings is backed by delicate acoustic guitars, piano, mouth harp, glockenspiel, organ, trumpet, accordion and percussion. Upon hearing this one would expect lush, vibrant arrangements and cohesive group dynamics akin to Anathallo or Belle & Sebastian, but Mermaid Skeletons seems content to keep things low-key and subdued. This is, after all, a folk band.
Of the six songs, the only one that begs for a repeat listen is second track, “Affair With Education,” which is fueled by the backing vocals of Anne Spraker and opera-trained Sarah Dyson. Opener “Happy Bell,” is an intimate, acoustic song that stands as a testament to Hryciak’s lyrical prowess and little else. Third track “Palm Coast,” and its follow up, the title track “Darlings,” don’t bring that much more to the table, even with the eclectic instrumentation. It isn’t until the album’s closer, “In Search of Pan Child,” that Mermaid Skeletons cements their stamp as a band worth listening to.
In the end, Darlings is most disappointing because it lacks the fullness one would expect from an eight-piece band. Sure it’s a perfect folk disc for relaxation or solace, but it’s also a frustrating one. For every minute that’s charming, intimate and beautiful, there’s also a minute that’s underwhelming and empty. And therein lies the dichotomy of this disc: dark lyrics are backed by spartan arrangements, gentle vocals are backed by bold themes, and a folk band employs eight members and never utilizes them to their full potential.
Iron and Wine, Anathallo, Joanna Newsom
myspace.com/joshuahryciakofthemermaidskeletons (http://www.myspace.com/joshuahryciakofthemermaidskeletons)
Record Label: Triple Stamp Records
Release Date: July 1, 2008
The most surprising thing about Richmond, VA folk band Mermaid Skeleton’s new EP Darlings is the quiet contained within. For a band, which comprises eight people and a litany of instruments, there’s actually a fair amount of sparse instrumentation and subdued grace packed within these six songs. It’s folk music at its very core, so much so, that the effort feels very much like a singer/songwriter solo project rather than a collaborative effort.
Vocalist and lyricist Joshua Hryciak is the obvious centerpoint as his wispy, breathy voice call to mind Sam Beam and Toronto’s Hayden. Inspired by a love of Rogers and Hammerstein, fantasy, and Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies series, Darlings is backed by delicate acoustic guitars, piano, mouth harp, glockenspiel, organ, trumpet, accordion and percussion. Upon hearing this one would expect lush, vibrant arrangements and cohesive group dynamics akin to Anathallo or Belle & Sebastian, but Mermaid Skeletons seems content to keep things low-key and subdued. This is, after all, a folk band.
Of the six songs, the only one that begs for a repeat listen is second track, “Affair With Education,” which is fueled by the backing vocals of Anne Spraker and opera-trained Sarah Dyson. Opener “Happy Bell,” is an intimate, acoustic song that stands as a testament to Hryciak’s lyrical prowess and little else. Third track “Palm Coast,” and its follow up, the title track “Darlings,” don’t bring that much more to the table, even with the eclectic instrumentation. It isn’t until the album’s closer, “In Search of Pan Child,” that Mermaid Skeletons cements their stamp as a band worth listening to.
In the end, Darlings is most disappointing because it lacks the fullness one would expect from an eight-piece band. Sure it’s a perfect folk disc for relaxation or solace, but it’s also a frustrating one. For every minute that’s charming, intimate and beautiful, there’s also a minute that’s underwhelming and empty. And therein lies the dichotomy of this disc: dark lyrics are backed by spartan arrangements, gentle vocals are backed by bold themes, and a folk band employs eight members and never utilizes them to their full potential.
Iron and Wine, Anathallo, Joanna Newsom
myspace.com/joshuahryciakofthemermaidskeletons (http://www.myspace.com/joshuahryciakofthemermaidskeletons)