Last October, at the Canadian Songwriter's Festival in Guelph, Ontario, Scott Merritt appeared with a guitar, a whack of effects and David Woodhead on bass, and proceeded to play quirky songs to an audience held in thrall. There were no songs that I had heard before, but his moody and subtle melodies, rhythms and lyrics were a perfect introduction to a weekend celebrating the songwriter's craft. This month MCA Records will be issuing Merritt's first album in ten years.
Like the songs from last year, this new album is a recollection of life in Canada, of growing up in Ontario. "I was trying to catch the feeling of a place like Port Dover or Long Point around the last day of August," explains Merritt, "A short beat-up beach, everyone gone home, only a couple of people left on the sand, kind of savouring the last of the day. I got to see that strip from a lot of different angles." His songs are snapshots. A bus ride. A midway. A girl. A car drives by. All are told in the lazy voice of a tired musician who puts the emphasis on "muse".
Kind of a cross between Springsteen and Beck but unlike both of them...Merritt plays with folk music and technology with a touch of performance art for good measure. He is a laconic performer but one who is engrossing to watch, and to listen to. Merritt began his musical career playing in garage bands and he has maintained a garage sound. Hollow drums, a simple bass line, and his heavily "tweaked" guitars. A blast of psychedelic fuzz lead, hidden keyboard parts, a reference to "Robert Johnson", and a beatbox, keep things interesting in "Swallowing the Key." What does it mean? Ask me later...right now I'm busy dancing.
Merritt's first album was released in 1979 in the Hamilton studio of Daniel Lanois. His third album, Gravity Is Mutual was produced by Laurie Anderson associate Roma Baran. He has worked with some of the best. His last album, Violet And Black was produced by Arthur Barrow (ex-Zappa) for IRS Records in 1990. Merritt has his own studio now in Guelph, Ontario, where he has produced albums for Stephen Fearing, Ian Tamblyn, Garnet Rogers and Fred Eaglesmith (among others). For the detour home he enlisted the help of several musical guests: guitarist Bill Dillon, keyboardist Richard Bell and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Bird are only a few of the associates who help complete Merritt's vision.
Scott Merritt is making a few carefully chosen appearances in southern Ontario to promote this album. If he comes close, don't miss him. He's an edgy and talented performer. If you're not fortunate enough to see him...don't miss the detour home, which captures the qualities of his live shows brilliantly.
Maple Music Records also has a Web site.
