Merz - 'Moi Et Mon Camion' (Gronland) Released 17/03/08

In 1999, Merz released his eponymous debut album, which gained enough praise for him to be offered a major label record deal. He turned it down. After a six year sabbatical from the music industry, spent working on new material, he returned with second album ‘Loveheart’. Critically well received, of more importance to Merz, real name Conrad Lambert, was doing it in the way that was right for him. Turning down that record deal lead to a period in which he returned to signing on in his home town – the resulting album was as honest and well realised as they come.

Third album ‘Moi Et Mon Camion’ continues in that way. Opening track ‘The Eviction Song’ starts with the sound of a removal van driving away – echoing Merz’s own experiences during the making of the album, finding it impossible to settle in one place. Musically, this is also a theme throughout the album. Genre-wise, ‘Moi et Mon Camion’ has no real fixed abode, and yet wherever Merz travels musically, it sounds and feels like his home.

The tracks all have their uniqueness and differences, but something about the honesty of Merz also gives them a shared character. The album as a whole is enjoyable and affecting – repeat listens allow you to get under the surface. What makes it special is quite hard to define… There are, for instance, a few tracks which feature picked acoustic guitars, joined later by string sections – the kind of thing that many singer/songwriters seem to rely on to try and add depth to their music. The end result is often the opposite, but here for some reason it works brilliantly.

Add to that a range of sounds that you would more expect to hear coming from an electronic artist – synths, ambient sounding noises, and samples - and you’re left with a genuinely interesting and deep album. For instance, in amongst some more folk-esque numbers, ‘Shun (Sad Eyed Days)’ is something else, conjuring up a mental image of a world where nothing feels quite real – Merz’s voice is great, versatile, and entirely his own, a great expression that is entirely honest. Nowhere is this more evident than on the fifth track, ‘Silver Moon Ladders’. The delay soaked arpeggios and echoing strings wash over you like waves, with an array of sounds swimming around in a sea of noise.

The music could, perhaps even should, fall into the background. The kind of thing you might put on whilst doing something else… and yet, there is something about it that commands attention. It’s powerful, affecting, but goes at it’s own pace, some songs (‘Presume Too Much’, ‘Cover Me’) expertly, effortlessly, letting you get caught up in them.

In penultimate track, ‘No Bells Left To Chime’ Merz tells that: “I’m going off the beaten track / cos somewhere out there’s my story.” This album is just another part of Merz’s story. It may be a slight bit surreal at times, but it is musically accomplished, completely honest, and thoroughly compelling.