★★★☆☆
‘Role Model Hermit’ is here - the highly anticipated debut album from critically-acclaimed art-rock trio mary in the junkyard. The British band have been making waves for the past three years with a steady stream of single releases and two EPs, gaining traction as they've showcased their eclectic sound across the world. They have supported and headlined shows from Brixton to New York, the latter being where they gained a fan and subsequently a close friend in iconic performance artist Marina Abramović.
mary in the junkyard’s first full-length project encapsulates all the quirks and charms of their beloved back catalogue, but with greater conviction and cohesion as they settle comfortably into their now distinctive sound. ‘Role Model Hermit’ is equal parts moody and mesmerising. While the band’s status and live crowds may have expanded, they stay true to their DIY roots and sound, utilizing an array of instrumentation, from the classic guitar and drums to the cello and viola, to deliver their mystical musical tales in an irreplaceable manner.
The album opens with ‘Mantra III’, a hypnotic introduction to their debut LP. Lead vocalist Clari Freeman-Taylor sings “it is yours babe / you deserve it” on loop, entrancing listeners as she pulls their attention entirely to her hauntingly beautiful voice. The sparse, diverse instrumentation behind her creates a dazing, immersive experience as listeners accept the invitation into mary in the junkyard’s phantasmagoric dreamscape.
‘Blood’ plays out as a more upbeat track from the band, firmly asserting their range within the first five minutes of play. This second track displays more introspection as mary in the junkyard sing about an obsession with a new lover - pining, yearning, and everything in between. Around the chorus, Freeman-Taylor ditches her harmony as she breathlessly states, “I’ve been thinking about you all day / Yeah it’s all that I can think about” - stirring a visceral reaction as we can feel the depth of her desperate craving for this lover.
An unequivocal standout is the album’s second single ‘New Muscles’ - a thematic pivot from the moody, warped love songs of the record as Freeman-Taylor sings about wanting to fight, “I’ve been looking for someone to fight”, demonstrating her commitment to this particular desire by telling us she’s been working out, “Working up and getting down” / “I’ve got new muscles all over my back”. Her provocative words are reinforced by funk-infused arrangements and soaring backing vocals from fellow band members David Addison and Saya Barbaglia.
It’s clear that after listening, ‘Role Model Hermit’ was a labour of love, satisfying fans who’d eagerly anticipated a long play for several years. On production, Freeman-Taylor said: “making this album was a big deal, and we had been given this opportunity that we’d worked really hard towards. It felt really important to have a space to prepare myself and everyone before going into the album”. All in all, the album is both a stunning debut and an exciting precedent for the band’s years to come in the alternative scene.
Zahra Hanif
Image: ‘Role Model Hermit’ Official Album Cover
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