Mermaid Cafe by Douglas Savage is an Indie Folk Soft Rock track infused with the sleepy British seaside town and all the charm that comes with it. I’m sure people can relate to exploring these quiet, peaceful towns and fantasising about a different pace of life, wondering what it is like to live there. Savage has tapped into that curiosity and painted a vivid picture of flourishing love within “a dried-up old fishing town.”
There is a sense of directness communicated through the lyrics; it feels as if they are speaking to their partner, the muse of the song, and allowing us in on their relationship through the first part of the track. In that way, the track feels quite vulnerable. As the track evolves, the lyrics feel less vocal and outwardly passionate and begin to turn inward, becoming self-reflective and introspective. Despite wanting to explore the world and having a desperation to see more than the seaside town that likely defined the character’s childhood, in discovering the world, they lost their attachment to their home and gave up on their partner.
The same breezy guitars from the beginning remain a constant throughout the track. While in the beginning, they felt like optimistic reminders of the closeness and affection between partners, towards the end, they become a stark reminder, a soft, dull ache of the missed opportunity. It speaks to Savage’s creativity and technical prowess that they can make a melody that can evoke both emotions. That variety is difficult to craft.
The vocal delivery is soft and subtle, with more emotion drawn out through harmonies. They elevate specific lyrics, amplifying their importance. An example of this emphasis is the hanging from a fishing line metaphor throughout the track. The harmonies draw attention to it, giving it the focus it deserves.
Overall, the power of this track is in its subtle narrative evolutions built on top of gorgeous light and crisp guitars that perfectly capture the sun-bleached melancholy of a run-down seaside town.
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