Mermaidens
19th October 2019
Whammy! Bar, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review and photography by Sarah Kidd.
Having recently released their sublime new album Look Me in the Eye, Wellington darlings Mermaidens are currently on tour, Auckland getting the chance to bask in their glory within the darkened walls of Whammy! last night.
Signed to what many consider to be the New Zealand royalty of record labels – and certainly one of the most iconic both here at home and worldwide – Flying Nun, the trio comprising of Gussie Larkin, Lily West and drummer Abe Hollingsworth delivered a compendium of tracks that both delighted and enthralled.
Taking the stage wearing shades of pink and red it was the title track of their 2016 album that began their set with that distinctly dream-pop, neo-psychedelic sound that they have become renowned for. The song itself weaves through several tempos, but never loses its cohesiveness, pulling the listener along as it travels through pagan-like verses, Larkins vocals calling through the trees. At one point the song twists and plunges into a delicious psych-rock passage, no doubt the influence of Larkins herself who also performs in the duo Earth Tongue. The set has barely begun, but the room is completely transfixed.
It’s easy to see why then that their popularity continues to grow, with a slew of international support slots – including Death Cab for Cutie and our very own Lorde – already under their belt and a Taite Music Prize nomination for their 2018 album Perfect Body, Mermaidens are very much on the radar of local music connoisseurs.
The first taste of their latest work last night came in the form of ‘I Might Disappear’; the shortest track on the album it encapsulates a far more poppy feel, but still with a sense of unease, a feeling that according to Larkin they wanted the album to have; “more danceable but still unsettling”. The lyrics are in parts stained with confrontation as the line ‘how long has this been going on’ repeats itself across a forthright beat, it’s a theme that certainly permeates the album in many ways (feeding into that unsettling feeling), even the record title itself commands rather than asks.
Vocally Larkins and West are as close to perfection as you can get whether they are singing individually or harmonising, their tone lush, shifting easily into the higher notes, never once losing that superlunary quality that makes them so hypnotic. Behind them Hollingsworth at times carves out intricate patterns on the kit; during others he lets loose as Mermaidens once again switches genres, employing elements of grunge, rock and even touches of sludge, the three-piece never afraid to challenge the norm when it comes to their compositions.
Tracks from Look Me in the Eye peppered the set throughout, Mermaidens fans both old and new kept satisfied with the varied set list that even included some unexpected gems such as the B Side to the 7” split single and middle finger to the man ‘You Maintain the Stain’; ‘Cut Me Open’ with it’s captivating chorus sung by Larkin that on the studio version pushes through a tremolo still just as powerful performed live. Numerous requests for a noted older number granted as ‘Under the Mountain II’ washed over the audience, the exceptional guitar and bass work of Larkins and West respectively part of what makes the song so unforgettable.
Finishing on ‘Cold Skin’, where once again Hollingsworth comes into his own, fans demanded an encore which was delivered in the form of the witch rock like ‘Lizard’, its sumptuous chorus delivered with composure and wrapped in a steady gaze courtesy of Larkins.
While Mermaidens may have changed musical direction slightly with Look Me in the Eye, they continue to challenge the expected, their live shows individual ceremonies in musical appreciation.
Were you there at Whammy! Bar for this magnificent Indie Rock gig? Or have you seen Mermaidens perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Mermaidens will be performing live at the Auckland leg of the annual Laneway Music Festival on the 27th January 2020. For everything you need to know you can check out more info here.
Setlist:
- Undergrowth
- I Might Disappear
- Wander
- Bastards
- Cut It Open
- Satsuma
- Under The Mountain II
- Millenia
- Priorities
- She’s Running
- Cold Skin
- Lizard [encore]
If you enjoyed this content, please consider donating towards the running of Ambient Light, covering expenses and allowing us to expand the coverage you love by clicking the red button below (Desktop) or visiting our PressPatron page (Mobile).