DC-based duo Vandaveer has released The Wild Mercury, an album that shows just how far their sound can stretch.
The Wild Mercury marks Vandaveer’s fifth LP. Even on this album, the duo’s signature sound still lays in the brilliant contrast between the two singers—Rose Guerin’s vocals reach for a celestial inflection while Mark Charles Heidinger’s remain more corporeal. Together, they tailor a tone that feels eerily whole.
At times it’s light and loose, with soft chords and wandering arpeggios, while at other moments heavy and precise, not letting a stray note amble away. The album nicely balances these polarities, showcasing Vandaveer’s patient technique of bringing contrasts into harmony.
“But Enough Of That For Now” is the record’s opening track, posing as a perfect welcome for the entire LP. The first chord rings out in a long drone, creating an ardent anticipation for the rest of the album. Cue a well-paced acoustic melody, and Heidinger and Rose effortlessly enter, forming the spellbinding duet.
There’s a sense of longing in the tune, vowel-heavy vocals seep through the song’s space. However, the duo won’t let it sink too low, finally singing, “but enough on that for now” while breaking into a livelier spirit. It’s a song about endurance, reminding us how things can improve even in the short span of five-minutes.
The Wild Mercury is available now on vinyl via Whitespace Records.
PHOTO: KURT GOHDE
