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MOSAIC – A Plague Of Angels EP
(Independent)
"An intriguing blend of styles on
Brisbane five-piece’s debut
Mosaic certainly live up their name: the band are capable of working in several genres and often blur them together in the course of a single song. Force You Out, for instance, sets a jazzy chord progression against a bluesy rock riff without jarring, while Maryanne Stewart’s unusual but strong vocal tone adds a touch of exotic spice. Tunes like Breathing Space, a sweet saxtinged
slice of rainy-day jazz-pop, prove that Mosaic’s modus operandi comes up trumps more
often than not."
BRETT COLLINGWOOD
RAVE MAGAZINE
- Rave magazine
Suave modern rock fraught with jazz and tinged with subtlety, the debut longplayer from Brisbane-based 5 piece Mesmere, 'An Overlong Welcome' is an ethereal exploration of texture and dynamics.
From the dangerously evocative ‘Corridors’ through to riff heavy closer ‘The Finalist’, Mesmere bear an innate ability to construct off the cuff almost leeringly effective melodies whilst maintaining a deceivingly even usical flow. The rhythm guitar in particular reliably offering a succinct counter approach to what could
easily be plunked out in paint to numbers manner.
Track # 2 - the Daniel Jones (Savage Garden) produced ‘Keepsakes’ - hums along with enough pizzazz to stick where it ought to and enough flutter to suspend itself artfully.
Lingering tastes here are reminiscent of a Portishead styled tendency towards soundscape coupled with Evanescence like vocal sustenance and Mesmere's own musical transgression thereof. An Overlong Welcome chimes where it should and punishes appropriately.
An Overlong Welcome
Artist: Mesmere
Label: Independent - theblurb.com
Discography
'An Overlong Welcome' - Album - Released June 2006. Tracks available worldwide through Ingrooves digital distribution. First single 'Keepsakes' has received airplay Australia wide.
'A Plague of Angels' - EP - released November 2004 (Under the name 'Mosaic').
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Bio
Mesmere (pronounced Mez-meer) derives from the word mesmerize.
Mesmerise (v):
- to attract strongly, as if with a magnet
- To induce hypnosis, a state of heightened awareness and focused concentration that can be used to manipulate perception
This definition encapsulates Mesmere's compelling sound, which is propelling their new album “An Overlong Welcome” onto the international scene. Their music blends genres artfully, providing a listener with the opportunity to groove on the melodic and harmonic offerings, or immersing one in layer after layer of sound, weaving a tapestry that is stunning in its complexity and beauty—but eminently listenable..
But it’s not the coming together that defines Mesmere as much as the sheer diversity of experience they bring to the stage and recording studio. From performing in metal, funk, jazz and rock bands to writing and performing theatre, this is a group of artists that’s not inclined to enforce a rigid style of performance. Instead, their music has evolved organically as each member continues to develop his or her art. This refusal to limit ideas has led to some very interesting and elaborate music, and based on their rapidly growing fan base, it’s a concept that is working very well.
This willingness to experiment derives, perhaps, from the broad spectrum of influences that informs their work: Pink Floyd, Tori Amos, Radiohead, Tool, Nick Cave, Nina Simone, and Janis Joplin, among others.
Critically-acclaimed for the epic nature of their sound, Mesmere is at home in large venues where they can fill space with big sound and striking visuals, but they are equally able to create intimate moments during which the audience hangs off of every word. The emphasis in their music is on creating emotional connections, with a powerful vocal centrepiece to a rhythm section built on intricate arrangements embedded in a seething mass of guitar trickery.
Mesmere’s music strikes a fine balance: between beauty and destruction, peace and unease. Listeners are swept into a raging torrent of sound that builds and builds to crashing crescendos, all the while being seduced by intriguing stories and rich emotion.
Mesmere’s website is located at www.mesmere.com or www.myspace.com/mesmere.
“An intriguing blend of styles…Mesmere certainly live up their name.”
- Brett Collingwood, Rave Magazine
“An Overlong Welcome is an ethereal exploration of texture and dynamic. (It) chimes where it should and punishes appropriately.”
- Evan Alexander, The Blurb
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