Daniel Pearson – ‘Mercury State’ (Saint In The City Records)

Acclaimed singer songwriter Daniel Pearson returns with album number two ‘Mercury State’. Here Daniel expands on the melodic foundations of his debut ‘Satellites’ to create a bold statement about the recession and social inequality in society. Sound heavy going? Well at times it is a little due to the lyrical content but what elevates this album beyond any expectations is Daniel’s songwriting skills, Mr Pearson certainly knows how to craft a beautiful tune.
It is an incredibly brave move for an up & coming artist to tackle such weighty issues on a record and in lesser hands this could have been a potential disaster but Daniel is no bedsit troubadour, his roots are firmly set in Grunge / Americana and these influences help steer the tracks on this album into a more radio friendly arena.

Not included here is ‘One For Conversation’ the in-between records single that featured a distinctly rockier electric guitar sound, where ‘Mercury State’ comes alive is when tempos (and Amps) are upped considerably. ‘Medication’, ‘Hard Times’ and ‘Promises’ were stand out tracks for me because of this while the other 6 songs on ‘Mercury State’ are indeed lovely, lilting laments that showcase Daniel Pearson’s considerable songwriting talent and soulful, wistful voice.
This is an incredibly relevant record that has mass appeal and while I applaud Daniel for tackling such a serious subject matter, it would be nice to hear the album that ‘One For Conversation’ prepared us for. 7.6/10

Jamie Gambino

Digital Out Now, Physical available January 2013