SINGLE REVIEW: Mercy Kelly – Lights

Much of the time, the local underground scene of a city remains self-contained; it requires effort, dedication, and just a pinch of luck for a band to break out into wider consciousness. For Mercy Kelly, that as already happened; word has trickled down the M62 from Manchester to Liverpool, marking this five-piece out as an indie rock outfit you need to be aware of. That has never been more so the truth than with the band’s latest single, ‘Lights’.

‘Lights‘ is brimming with a distinctly 00’s flair, yet constructed in a way that keeps it feel intensely fresh; the buoyant, jagged pop sensibilities of Scouting For Girls collide with the cinematic depth of Snow Patrol, rounded off with a driving, hard rock polish that particularly comes through during the sprawling choruses. It’s impossible to not appreciate the pure musicianship of this track, evolving past simple catchiness to bring some gorgeous weaving instrumental melodies, and a delightful amount of contrast between the punchy verses and the immense choruses.

An expansive instrumental bridge acts as a gorgeously bright climax that explodes out into a final chorus. Atop of all of this are distinctive, driving vocals, gifted with an unusual timbre that is surprisingly reminiscent of Placebo’s Brian Molko, he weaves brilliantly anthemic melodies that not only possess a cinematic sense of ambition and scale, but remain just catchy enough to ensure that this track remains firmly in your head.

What Mercy Kelly ultimately offer is a gorgeous indie affair that marks them out as a ‘need to know’ member of the grassroots cohort of Manchester. ‘Lights’ feels vitally relevant, yet fiercely distinct; a track that feels right at home in the sounds of current indie scene, yet could not be mistaken for anyone other than Mercy Kelly.

For Fans Of: Snow Patrol, Placebo, Mew, Coldplay, October Drift, The Mysterines

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify