Mercury Falling [LP]

by Sting

Overview

Falling somewhere between the pop sensibilities of Ten Summoner's Tales and the searching ambition of The Soul Cages, Mercury Falling is one of Sting's tighter records, even if it fails to compel as much as his previous solo albums. Though he doesn't flaunt his jazz aspirations as he did in the mid-'80s, Mercury Falling feels more serious than The Dream of the Blue Turtles, primarily because of its reserved, high-class production and execution. Building from surprisingly simple, memorable melodies, Sting creates multi-layered, vaguely soul-influenced arrangements that carry all of the hallmarks of someone who has studied music, not lived it. Of course, there are many pleasures in the record -- for all of his pretensions, Sting remains an engaging melodicist, as well as a clever lyricist. There just happens to be a distinct lack of energy, stemming from the suffocating layers of synthesizers. Mercury Falling is a record of modest pleasures; it's just not an infectious, compulsive listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/30/2016
Label:	A&M / Polydor
UPC:	0731454048613
Rank:	61514

Tracks

1. The Hounds of Winter
2. I Hung My Head
3. Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot
4. I Was Brought to My Senses
5. You Still Touch Me
6. I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
7. All Four Seasons
8. Twenty Five to Midnight
9. La Belle Dame Sans Regrets
10. Valparaiso
11. Lithium Sunset

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sting   Primary Artist,Bass,Vocals,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Shirley Lewis   Guest Artist,Vocals
Lance Ellington   Guest Artist,Vocals
B.J. Cole   Guest Artist,Pedal Steel
The Memphis Horns   Guest Artist
Branford Marsalis   Guest Artist,Saxophone
Vinnie Colaiuta   Guest Artist,Drums
Kenny Kirkland   Guest Artist,Keyboards
Andrew Love   Saxophone
Simon Osborne   Vocals
Dominic Miller   Guitar,Keyboards
Wayne Jackson   Trumpet
Kathryn Tickell   Fiddle,Vocals (Background),Northumbrian Smallpipes
Gerry Richardson   Organ (Hammond)
Tony Walters   Vocals
Monica Reid-Price   Vocals
The East London Gospel Choir   Vocals

Technical Credits

Simon Osborne   Engineer
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Dominic Miller   Arranger,Composer
Hugh Padgham   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Sting   Arranger,Composer,Producer