If you're a fan of the now-defunct band Dryve, you might think you can get your fix from Mercury Switch. And you might be right -- Paul Donovan's vocals are distinctive enough that comparisons can easily be made. And the guitars reach that cheerfully jangly state that you may remember fondly. But make no mistake, this is not the same band. The sound is more basic, more rootsy, a little more stripped down, though not stripped bare.
The other members of Mercury Switch are Jeremy McDermott on drums and vocals and Matt Cliff on bass, vocals, and the occasional trombone (making for a nice wah effect on "Hinges"). The sound is surprisingly full for a three piece, and the backing vocals blend nicely with Donovan's. This is undoubtedly due in part to a couple of musicians who sit in: Kristopher Stone on Hammond and keyboard, and Steve Pratschner (also late of Dryve) on guitar.
Though this is their first effort, it's clear that these guys have talent. Songwriting credit goes to Donovan on all five tracks (track six makes me laugh every time; you'll just have to buy the CD to find out why it's funny and why it's not counted as a "real track").
The lyrics are pure poetic storytelling:
traces
pull your graces down
places
my feet don't touch the ground
headlights like cars
falling like stars
it's the way i feel tonight
nomad slant, shot a glance
it's not right
i'm falling down, but i'm weightless
In the final analysis, Mercury Switch definitely bears a family resemblance to Dryve, but it's not interchangeable (think Martin and Charlie Sheen). Mercury Switch has enough merits to stand on their own two feet, though Dryve's fan base may be a good place to look for early listeners.
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