mercury Surrenders to the Unknown in "woolgathering"
Photo: Luke Rogers
Mercuryâs newest single, âWoolgathering,â faces the uncertain through an emotional tide of indie rock sound.
Mercury spilled out onto the Nashville scene in 2022 with their debut single, âI Donât Know You Like I Used To,â which established the bandâs visionary indie rock sound. After a brief hiatus, Mercury is back in full steam, having released their re-introductory single, âTrying,â in October 2023.
âWoolgatheringâ is a current that rises exponentially, beginning with a wandering electric guitar and punctuated hits of live drums. Mercuryâs frontperson, Maddie Kerr, colors the sound with her unique vocal tone. Thereâs a spectrum of influences in her delivery; from the hint of a country yodel to the slightly manic twinge of midwest emo, Kerrâs vocals are all tied together with the soaring intentionality of fine-tuned indie pop songwriting.
What really stands out is the careful containment of the emotion bubbling up beneath the surface of âWoolgathering.â There are moments when each instrument is left free to scream. At one point, the guitar ventures on a cascading riff between instances of cathartic drum hits, and the next, gritty vocals wail over the ambiance of distorted percussion. Mercury has a purpose for every note, which is a consciousness that rings clear throughout the âWoolgathering.â
The visualizer solidifies the songâs grasp attempt at remaining grounded, as Kerr is seen running through a vaguely post-apocalyptic landscape with a horse. Itâs both beautiful and ominous, peaceful and isolating, much like the feeling âWoolgatheringâ invokes.
This is the aspect of Mercury that sets them apart from other indie rock outfitsâthe way each of their songs infuses a visceral feeling into the sound. âWoolgatheringâ is both the desperation of clawing at something stable and the release of accepting itâll never fully settle. Kerr spoke on the song, saying, âItâs my reminder to be calm and try to have a sound mind during times of uncertainty. To surrender to whatâs unknown, and tread gracefully during the confusing times in life.â
Watch the "woolgathering" visualizer below: