On Why Meursault Will Own Your Soul If You Let Them

photo credit: Blueback Hotrod

William Henry Miller Pt. 1 (7″ version) Meursault 7″ vinyl from Song, by Toad Records Now you tell me what you think of this… the production is very different here! Do you like it? I’m of two minds, myself… I’d rather like the vocals to be pushed up front a little more but then again, I like the windy, raw, noisy sound of it too. I just can’t wrap my brain around it all yet, too used to the EP version I think.

It’s been a Meursault kind of day. All cold and snowy and miserable. And on these winter days I think of Scotland and of folk music and especially of Neil Pennycook’s voice which bleats out the feeling that life and love is eternally lost, unrequited, then found, forgotten and dies. Perhaps, you’ll remember my review of their debut, back here, almost exactly a year ago today. I also managed to pick that record for my favorite of 2008.

I can’t exactly tell you when my affair with Scotland began but it’s a lot older than this obsession with it’s new indie folk music. It might have been born from our trip there a few years ago; spending a month traipsing over the Highlands, Shetland and Orkney, and Skye, and settling in Glasgow for a while will do that to you. But what it really did to me (especially those many days in the mist and fog of the Shetland islands) was give me a place in my brain for this music.

Of course not all of Meursault’s songs are bleak and sad. And it’s not even fair to say that any of them are, in fact. That over simplification fails to see that in the desolation of a place there is always a hidden warmth, a spot of moss that grows, or a hearth smoking with a peat fueled fire somewhere. And underlying Neil’s bleating voice lies a knowing … and a sense that is anything but despair and sadness. Obviously overlaid it all are the gorgeous sounds of banjos and guitars and that funny drum-thing called a cajon, and all those electronically made melodies and countermelodies. The harmonies and, at times, the sheer speed at which the lyrics are spit out, also lighten the mood. “The Dirt & Roots” is a prime example of this technique; depressing as hell lyrically and such a deceptively cheery, catchy tune. Sometimes I feel Neil’s being intentionally contrary- “This is an awfully cheery tune, let’s write about death, heartache and disaster!” said with a devilish smile on his face. His bandmates, Fraiser, Calum, Chris and now Phillip and Pete, no doubt heartily agree.

Their new EP, Nothing Broke, has been playing constantly at Chez Tart. On it you’ll find a really tender version of this song that nobody can really decide who wrote or what the original should sound like – for Meursault it’s “Red Candle Bulb.” You might have heard Withered Hand’s Dan Willson’s version of it, “Oldsmobile Car.” There’s a third version which I don’t have, hint, hint….  And even though I’ve picked “William Henry Miller Pt. 1″ as my #3 song in my Festive Fifty back in November, it’s been “Love and Limb” that’s been hitting me between the eyes lately. Well, until today when I opened my email and found another (7″) version of  “WHM Pt. 1″ (with album version of  “The Dirt & Roots”) along with a (7″) version of “WHM Pt. 2″ (with album version of “A Few Kind Words”) Fucking hell! Just when I thought I had this all sorted they up and recorded totally different takes on these great songs. You can hear guest vocals by Dan Willson (Withered Hand) and Bart Owl (of eagleowl) and the two new additions to Meursault, Pete Harvey (cello) and Phil Quirie (electric guitar). There’s no stopping these madmen.  The new album they’re working on could contain just anything. I can’t wait, and you’d better be buying these singles and EP up because with the amount of good press Meursault is getting you will be saying “I knew this band when…” Trust me on this. xoxo

The Skinny declares Pissing on Bonfires, Kissing With Tongues to be one of the top 20 Scottish Records of the decade!
Drowned in Sound declares “Henry William Miller Pt. 1″ and “A Few Kind Words” to be the single of the week, Dec. 7, 2009

Tour Dates (oh many more coming soon!)
Feb 22 2010 7:00P Electric Circus w/ XIU XIU & Foundling Wheel Edinburgh
Mar 27 2010 8:00P Slaughtered Lamb London
Mar 29 2010 8:00P Bungalows and Bears Sheffield
Apr 10 2010 8:00P ALBUM LAUNCH – Cabaret Voltaire

This is from their show at Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh (their hometown) where they opened for Frightened Rabbit, to a sold out house. It gives you a preview of their new album (pay no mind to the blathering bitches in the crowd, grrr!)

Meursault – New Ruin (Live at the Queen’s Hall) from Song, by Toad on Vimeo.