New Merpeoples: “Silent Sleep”

Wow, has it really been two years since this? That was the moment Merpeoples – an up-to-that point good band who had a few solid tracks but seemed like a perpetual “pretty good” outfit – jumped to a new level, showing they were capable of not only turning a lame-as-hell ‘80s cut into something wonderful, but also of being a great band in a crowded city. They delivered with the following mini-album Metropolis, one of the year’s best, and an absolute stunner from top to bottom. But man…nothing much for two years. The venue where they celebrated their seeming rise to the next level even closed down.

Welp, now they are back with a new song, “Silent Sleep” and nothing has changed. It might not sound much like “Ikenai Rouge Magic” but it does sound like most of the other tracks on Metropolis. It’s built around one great sonic idea…here a chintzy Dodger-Stadium-in-the-’60s organ, a sneaky bass line and vocals. It’s locked-in stuff, tight and borderline militaristic in its delivery. But then things free up a bit and the chorus smacks us in the head. It all builds to a light, airy hook that is such a change from the sorta unsettling verses. It’s a nifty trick, and makes for a very replayable number. So glad to see this guys back.