mary in the junkyard - Role Model Hermit

This evocatively-titled debut from mary in the junkyard finds the enigmatic trio exploring themes of reconnection, half-remembered past lives and humanity both mundane and unusual. Beginning with the spine-tingling ‘Mantra III’ – a gentle maelstrom of hushed words – the record meanders through moments of darkness, light and bittersweetness to form a soft-edged musical sculpture. A key element of the band’s sound is their engaging use of violin, and the songs which make the most of this feature certainly feel like the best here: the angular ‘Blood’ pits waffly guitars against a driving rhythm; ‘Crash Landing’ pulsates mind-bendingly; and ‘Myrtle’ and ‘Welcome Break’ offset these, both lush and expansive.

The recording of ‘Candelabra’ here feels live, appealingly sparse and revealing an intense fragility - an ideal showcase for vocalist Clari Freeman-Taylor. Elsewhere, ‘Thou Shalt Sprout’ veers into nu-folk territory, its cadence almost shanty-like. Finally, ‘Mouse’ is appropriately placed as the album’s closing track: the song passes through several phases of emotion, its shivering strings providing discomforting dissonance which finally dissolve into a welcome resolution. It’s a fitting conclusion to an impressive debut.