With a voice like a paintbrush and honesty in his pen, Michael Merenda gently tours the backyard of the mind on his new CD, “Quiver.” With the semi-sweet mystery of a folk record and the unapologetic exploration of a rock record, “Quiver” unfolds more like a series of skilled poems sung to glimmering musical backdrops, each more risky and thrilling than the last.
Michael Merenda
Quiver
Release date: 1/16/07
Humble Abode Music 008
For the past five years Merenda has been touring with the collaborative quintet, The Mammals, who have inventively trail-blazed an indie-stringband circuit in the folk festival, concert hall, and rock club scene. Mammal band-mate, Ruth Ungar harmonizes closely with Merenda on "Quiver," and contributes occasional textures on the fiddle, banjo and harmonica. Indispensable accompanist, Ken Maiuri, (Pedro the Lion, Four Color Press) finds the perfect placement for brilliant organ and electric guitar lines, and a bit of bass and glockenspiel.
Producer José Ayerve (Spouse, Pernice Brothers) captured the freshness of these new songs, by recording Merenda's vocal and guitar simultaneously in one or two takes. In the spirit and momentum of the moment, many songs were completed within the hour, with a few flourishes from the supporting musicians, and skillful finishing touches by Ayerve.
Artsy songs like title track, "Quiver," "Holiest of Ghosts," and "In the Flickerin' Light," flow between billowy darkness and hopeful sparkle. "Crutch" and "Like a Mellow Man" stir up more of a social front-porch vibe, and the narratives "Soldier for the Prince" and "The Engine and The Emergency Brake" showcase Merenda's love for more traditional songwriting.
The themes throughout are mostly dark or even sad, which makes each half-smile quite radiant, and the coy magnetism of the album's most cheerful song, "When I See Your Face," becons with, "When I see your face, I can hardly breathe / And I know the mistletoe just grew a few more leaves . . ." On the last tune, "Shake This Mess Around," Merenda rocks out with a full band behind him and seems to have fun letting loose with a bit more volume.
By far Merenda's finest accomplishment to date, "Quiver" will earn a place in the hearts (and iPods) of rock and folk listeners alike. The album's unique melodic pathways and unfettered arrangements are as compelling as the truth and beauty of his songs.
