Through an intricate tapestry of velvety vocals, grunge-laced guitar and seductive synths, Naam/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Merpire appears to have cultivated the soundtrack for the quintessential teenage dream. After capturing such a zeitgeist following the release of her acclaimed 2021 debut album, ‘Simulation Drive’, the 4th of July heralds the release of Merpire’s long-awaited second album, ‘Milk Pool’. An equally impassioned affair that brims with mesmeric melodies and lyrics which could make even the most brazen turn coy, ‘Milk Pool’ is spearheaded by an almost tangible romanticism.
In a manner similar to her sparkling debut album, Merpire, Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt, known as Merpire, continues to blend introspection with instinct. Her latest work, Milk Pool, explores themes of vulnerability and intimacy alongside desire and allure, all while exhibiting a noticeable and relaxed quality. Rich in diverse elements, “Milk Pool” embodies pure and sensuous dark pop.
Written largely in the final stretch of a past relationship, the album audibly embodies the peaks and troughs not only of romance but of adolescence, a feat achieved by a tailored track list of both clamorous crescendos and evocative lullabies. The album’s opener, ‘Leaving With You’, is fizzing with scratching, 00s-esque guitar, whilst simultaneously spilling with a bittersweetness that only an unrequited love can bring. Seconded by an album standout and the album’s first single, ‘Premonition’ is founded upon seductive synths, with Atkinson-Howatt acclaiming the track as ‘the most exciting song on the record’.
The latest single from the album, “Bigger,” captures the excitement of naive moments before a first kiss, transitioning from tender melodies to explosive guitar riffs. The album slows down with “Rosanna,” embracing the soothing sounds of electronica. The most poignant track is “Cinnamon,” an acoustic piece reflecting on unresolved memories and capturing the deep connection between senses and past experiences. It seamlessly flows into “fig.8,” which represents the highs and lows of relationships with its blend of brooding guitar and soft acoustic elements.
Arguably, Merpire’s vocal proficiency is most duly demonstrated on the tracks ‘Canine’ and ‘Retriever’. ‘Canine’, which boasts lyrics detailing both the treasured mundane alongside more felicitous fantasy, features Atkinson-Howatt’s vocals building longer and higher as the instrumentation reaches a synth-induced head. On balance, ‘Retriever’ is founded upon a paradox between the grazing guitar and the sickly sweetness of Merpire’s vocals, with musing lyrics, such as ‘life doesn’t wait on tables/ I wanna have the time of my life’. Grunge-esque spikiness is furthered on the layered, heavier track ‘Fishing’, yet the album’s concluding remarks are ones of more painful, palpable emotion. The penultimate track, ‘Internet,’ features melancholic, social commentary lyrics, with the song acting as an ambient yet apprehensive narration of increasing social detachment. However, the parting message of ‘Milk Pool’ is one of affirmation and assurance. ‘You Are Loved’ is a fleeting 1:47 minutes, yet it packs a punch of distant, treacly vocals and tender guitar strumming. An ending to an album which is both bold yet beautifully reflective, ‘Milk Pool’s conclusion remains one of deep romanticism.
Merpire’s ‘Milk Pool’ is an eleven-track exploration into vivid and visceral vulnerability. Through the album’s commendable ability to offer up new intricacies, sentiments and allegories with each new listen, ‘Milk Pool’ can be christened as an ever-enduring release. From tracks that can immediately induce a spate of cathartic headbanging or tears of elation or exasperation, Merpire’s release offers solace to listeners’ own unique emotional needs, whatever they may be. Both whimsical and brimming with conviction, ‘Milk Pool’ is a triumphant release from Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt.
After recently returning from her third tour in three years across the UK, whereby her first headline London show was a sell-out, Merpire is currently gearing up for summer dates across Australia, tickets for which can be found below.
The post Merpire’s ‘Milk Pool’: A Triumph of Kaleidoscopic Dark Pop appeared first on Indie is not a genre.
