Swallowing Curses is Merchandise’s follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut album, This is… Merchandise.

The single continues the Bolton based duo’s exploration into uncharted sonic territory but also shows evidence of their growing ability to produce perfect pop moments guaranteed to catch the ear of the unexpecting listener.

Merchandise’s trademark sound is put to uplifting effect on Swallowing Curses which has flavours of bands such as The Flaming Lips and Pavement.

Swallowing Curses also contains memorable lyrics penned by travelling writer and band collaborator Roger Williams, describing the unadulterated joy of emerging from the mists of depression and looking out on a cloudless sky.

Not satisfied with the usual band policy of releasing second rate material to fill in the gaps Merchandise have backed the single with Terracotta Caterpillar, an enthralling cocktail of sound which melds hypnotic folk-inspired melodies with hi-tech funk a la Squarepusher and Aphex Twin.

Both tracks pave the way for their up coming second album, now being lovingly honed at Cityscape Studios and due for release in 2004.

http://www.releasemagazine.net/Onrecord/ormerchandisehsthp.htm

An interesting proposition this one; taking the traditional acoustic sounds and marrying them with all the possibilities that electronic music can provide. So here is the evidence: an album of largely interesting, highly melodic, and at times, quite quirky electropop by Cityscape’s own Merchandise.

The band consist of just two members, but manages to create a quite convincing full sound, that could deceptively make you think there are more than just four hands at work. The sound is largely based around genuine song structure, comprising of drum, vocals and slightly less favourably (in places), acoustic guitar; then bulked up with vintage, warm analogue drones and tweaks. There is a genuine warmth to be found in these tracks, almost as if they had been baked in a musical oven, on a fairly low heat to let the contents gently meld together. The album manages to stretch between a number of tempos, without affecting the overall dynamic, and best of all, sounds remarkably fresh and interesting.

Stand out songs in this set have to be “Distil Disappointment”; a simple song heavily based around an insistent jangly guitar riff and drum beat, with stunningly bizarre lyrics, and one of the shortest ever endings to a song I have heard for a long time - just one chord! Also check out the opening instrumental “I Hate That You’re Living” and the brief but wonderful “The Last Stand of Pucho Vasquez”.

The vocals and guitars can sound a bit raw at times - but somehow this all adds to the fun. This is an album of ideas, and just like seeds planted in the earth, not all of them are going to bare fruit. Some of the song parts are not quite hitting the mark - but still as a whole, this album is relatively successful.

A pleasant enough sound from a promising duo; it might not set the world on fire, but if you like your pop with a sprinkle of electronics and a slightly bigger dash of wackiness (try “Winter” on for size!), you could do a lot worse!

MIKE WHYTE