We don’t learn much about history, by writing about music. Although – one could say – we do instead earn a sizeable knowledge of human nature and personal experiences. Well, today – while sharing with you the hypnotising classic rock of Aussie band Mermaid Avenue – we’ll also be learning interesting facts we didn’t know about Australia. But first, some housekeeping: Emerging from Warner, Mermaid Avenue are a rock-oriented six-piece with an extensive career behind them. Championing a balanced sonic formula made up of country rock, classic tones and blues influences, they offer material that feels timeless as much as it feels refreshing.
After having released two albums, Temptation and Half the Truth (2018) and Sugartown (2022) – both celebrated by critics and listeners alike – Mermaid Avenue returns with their latest effort, a charming and relatable single, ‘Loveday No 9’. Lyrically, the piece is extremely relevant, remembering a controversial page in Australia’s history. As the group explains: Despite the upbeat, quirky nature of the music, the song is about Pete Clarke’s Italian grandfather, Alfie, who emigrated to Australia pre-WWII to escape the rise of fascism in his own country. After the second world war started, a combination of paranoia and xenophobia in Australia saw Italian ex-pats like Alfie consigned to internment camps for suspicion of being ‘Nazi sympathisers’.
The contrast between the intense and meaningful lyrical theme and its playful sonic background creates a unique, stunning slice of musical goodness, perhaps embracing the nostalgic and melancholic nature of Blues itself.
Recommended! Discover ‘Loveday No. 9’ on Spotify, and look out for their upcoming album, releasing later this year:
