Blackout Beach - Light Flows the Putrid Dawn
(Soft Abuse)
One of the most singular voices (and songwriters) to emerge in pop music in the past decade would have to be Carey Mercer, who is more widely known as the man behind Frog Eyes. With two albums out, they've built themselves a quickly growing following, and deservedly so. Something like David Bowie on speed, Carey's voice often wildly careens between octaves as his impassioned tenor soars to an overdriven falsetto wail. His lyrics are dark, cryptic, and well worth decoding, as each listen seems to bring to light more nuances.
In Frog Eyes, the crackling, chaotic pop songs seem to be entirely stream of consciousness. They're largely driven by the bizarre vocals, and fittingly, seem out of control, unguided, and on the verge of falling apart. But underlying the obscure and wild murk is a concise, well planned pop song. Carey just doesn't write songs that you can predict.
Frog Eyes released Ego Scriptor earlier this year. While it was comprised of Carey's solo, acoustic versions of old and new Frog Eyes songs, it was not a solo album. That'd be way too easy.
Instead, he released Light Flows the Putrid Dawn under the moniker Blackout Beach. In it, he flexes, pounds, and strains his way through 14 incredibly cryptic and intriguing songs he's ever written. Despite the number of songs, it still clocks in at a very short 24:35, but, honestly, I listened to it many, many times before I realized it was short. He pumps his music so full of message and dynamic that after trying to keep afloat for 25 minutes, I'm exhausted. Not that I'm glad it's over so soon, but I just felt like I'd gotten my "album's worth."
Being as this is one man, and not a band, the songs don't really let loose, and "rock" (with one exception) like Frog Eyes occasionally do. Instead, most songs are based around a couple of loosely played guitar lines which are heavily embellished and overdubbed with more guitars, light percussion, synthesizers, etc. Sonically, there's a lot going on... usually, at the same time. His lyrics are of course, a big focus. In "New Soft Shimmering Motherhood Alliance," he softly intones "I ain't gonna fuck you around, fucked many others but the pony has to get down" along to a rare moment of delicacy. A tangible tension hangs in the music as if he doesn't quite mean it and may explode. And, in a burst of distorted drums and guitar noise, he does.
Soon enough the new Frog Eyes album will be released, and we'll have the chance to hear more of Carey's songs with the power of the full band to give them punch, but if you've found anything of worth in their albums, this quick glimpse into the heart of Carey Mercer's songwriting just may prove to be the real treasure of your Frog Eyes collection.
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