Album Review

Amelia Curran – They Promised You Mercy

• 26th Jan 2015

Canadian singer songwriter Amelia Curran returns with another excellent album, They Promised You Mercy, which builds on 2013’s fine Spectators. Again Curran’s sharp and poetic lyrics stand out, while the slightly more expansive roots–rock feel to the music allows her clear and passionate vocals to flourish. The pace is faster on most of the eleven tracks here and the less folky approach works very well.

The upbeat and almost celebratory opener Somebody Somewhere sets the tone nicely, with its organ swell and chant along chorus. Coming For You follows, the strong vocals working well in a song with a plethora of similes. The softer and more sombre I Am The Night slows things down a little, the rich lyrics moving into a series of metaphors, and the melodic chorus radiates strength. The excellent Never Say Goodbye completes a strong opening section with a guitar driven love song that features another lovely chorus.

Time Time takes a different approach, a rich acoustic track that sees Curran’s pure voice backed by some fine finger picking guitar. This one comes firmly from the folk tradition, and the world weary vocals are exquisite, as are the lyrics. “You only promised me pages, I promised you books” sums up a failed relationship quite perfectly.

Lead single Song On The Radio comes next, perhaps the album’s stand out track. A strong country rock feel with a banjo in the mix sees Curran in typically expressive mood and the passion in her vocals takes this one to another level. Add in a short piano solo and a hook filled chorus and Song On The Radio become a memorable radio friendly track.

The Reverie is simple yet gorgeous, the vocals rising and falling with pure tones that delight. Curran’s vocals are deeper on The Matador but the poignant lyrics are still delivered in real style. Fables & Troubles takes us back to the folk feel before Strike The Band again has a slight country edge. And the sumptuous closing ballad You’ve Changed wraps up the album with another tale of love lost. Curran’s vocals over simple acoustic guitar and lush pedal steel drip with loss and pain, yet there is a resilience in there too.

They Promised You Mercy is another very good collection of songs, excellently produced in a manner that makes all of the backing instruments clear, and they augment Amelia Curran’s clear tones perfectly. Curran made her name in St. John’s, Newfoundland as a folk singer, but this album continues a journey towards a larger sound. And it showcases a talented performer very nicely indeed.

Venue: They Promised You Mercy
Support Band: Six Shooter Records