Mercymachine
The Devil I know
Sb Records

Mercymachine's new album has a concept about a man lost to drink and despair, but despite this it's a seductive record. Jazno Francoeur who fronts the band sings compellingly and has penned his songs well. Opener "30 years" is reminiscent of Red House Painters in its quiet intensity. "I need a new Jesus" sees the protagonist struggling with his faith and Francoeur paints his pain in strong colors. The orchestration is deft.

The title song is a moving soft hush. Its description of spiritual torment is both bleak and believable. Leonard Cohen's "Winter Lady" appears in a lovely version. It's a good choice of a song. The album approaches its themes in a Cohen-like fashion after all. And it succeeds in being a strong work of art.

Copyright © 2006 Anna Maria Stjärnell