:: Small Mercies - Beautiful Hum

Small Mercies

The first thing that you hits about Beautiful Hum is how distinctly international their sound is. Steve Blaik’s melodic voice and chanting choruses immediately reminds you of the American rock scene. This isn’t so surprising if you take a look at the album’s producer Matt Wallace. Working with the likes of Faith No More and Train, Wallace has helped infuse Beautiful Hum with the sounds of US bands like The Calling. That’s not to say that Small Mercies don’t have their own unique feel. The opening two songs, Come On and Sorry are incredibly good and leave you wanting more. The music is haunting and the guitars shimmer. Blaik’s vocals bleeds with emotion, providing the perfect soundtrack for any heart-broken or angst ridden lover. A little more upbeat Innocent continues the band’s love affair with soft rock ballads tinged with pain and lovelorn. Nominated for the ARIA award for Breakthrough Artist- Single in 2007, Innocent didn’t win but that doesn’t make its melancholic lyrics about betrayal and fear any less memorable. The album’s namesake song, Beautiful Hum has an unreal danceable feel that would get any young rocker banging their head in approval. A guitar-heavy track, Beautiful Hum rings like the tambourines that give this song a sound you can’t get out of your head. Even the Beatles get a shout out, with the first bars of The Trouble With You and Me an obvious homage to Strawberry Fields Forever. All in all, Small Mercies have put together what is honestly quite a decent CD. The sound is fresh, Steve Blaiks vocals are unique and appealing to the ears and the songs fulfill their rock agenda. Together since 1997, Small Mercies seem to have finally tapped into an album which should appeal to anyone, whether they like rock or not.