Mansions In The Sea – Terra
Mansions In The Sea – Terra
Winter Solitude Productions
Release Date: 01/07/22
Running Time: 47:46
Review by Laura Barnes
Rating: 8/10
It’s bloody boiling, isn’t it?
Or at least, it is at the time of me writing this (knowing the fast-paced soap opera that is British weather, this might be completely irrelevant to you by the time you read this). If you, like me, are absolutely sweltering, all out of ice cream, and in desperate need for something to cool you down, then look no further: Mansions In The Sea’s debut album “Terra” will do just the trick. This album of chilly folk will give you that fuzzy, goosebumpy feeling you didn’t even realise you were missing. You will find yourself transported into a snowy woodland, huddled around the campfire, listening intently to the lone figure with a guitar that tells you stories of his home land.
And a lone figure Mansions In The Sea is indeed. ‘Mansions In The Sea’ is in fact a solo project of Berlin-based songwriter Sascha Blach, who is also the vocalist and guitarist of rock band The Halo Trees. In my opinion, folk is very much a ‘too-many-cooks-spoil-the-broth’ sort of genre, and it seems Blach shares my opinion: as well as the vocals and guitar, Blach also recorded the banjos, pianos, ukuleles and even cajon single-handedly. The result is an album that feels intimate, vulnerable and authentic. Mansions In The Sea work in the tradition of 60s and 70s singer/songwriters like Leonard Cohen and Tim Buckley, and much like his forefathers manages to achieve a sound that is melancholic without being crushingly, devastatingly bleak.
Like all good folk, “Terra” sways gently between poetry and storytelling, atmosphere and groundedness. This balance is most eloquently achieved in ‘The Artist As An Old Man’, a beautiful and stunningly earnest track that tells the story of an old man disillusioned with his music and poetry after struggling to find success throughout his life. The lyrics depict his emotions with empathy and clarity, from his cynicism (‘if somebody reads his lines / it’s just an echo of an ego’) to his epiphany that gives his art more meaning than ever before (‘full of ideas nobody wants to hear / it’s just himself that he plays for’).
Blach’s talent for insightful lyrics again shines through on ‘Just A Dreamer’, where he tells his lover, ‘show me a record you adore / and I grant you a glimpse into my soul’. Here, the sweet and upbeat melody really manages to capture the excitement of a tentative new love, and will surely resonate with anyone who has ever been enthralled by the possibility of understanding another person in all their totality. This track also features the wonderful singing talent of Joran Elane, whose softer-toned vocals harmonise and contract perfectly with Blach’s deeper tones.
Speaking of Blach’s distinctively low singing voice, ‘Pacific Ocean View’ sees him utitlise his unique sound to its full potential in this sinister, unease-filled track. Upbeat guitars dance through the uncertain atmosphere set by the percussion and violins (provided by Kathrin Bierhalter, also of The Halo Trees) as Blach tells his tale. The best way I can describe this song is that it feels like going on a fun camping trip with a dead man, and who doesn’t love camping!
There are moments, however, where I feel that some of the songs could have been pushed further to increase the dynamicsm and variety of the “Terra” – ‘Flow’ seems to slow the momentum of the album somewhat, and ‘Lonelytown’ is a fantastic concept that would have really benefitted from venturing deeper into its own darkness. However, this is a small critique of an album that is refreshingly unique and original. If you’ve ever wondered what it would sound like if David Gold joined Simon and Garfunkel, or if you need a break from a very loud and very bombarding society, or if you simply love heartfelt and well-crafted music, then “Terra” will not disappoint.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Disappear In The Clouds
02. Circumnavigation Of The World
03. Somewhere Out There
04. The Artist As An Old Man
05. Lost Without A Trace (feat. Joran Elane)
06. Lonelytown
07. Bleary Remembrance
08. Pacific Ocean View
09. Renounce Despair
10. Bridge To A New Life
11. Just A Dreamer (feat. Joran Elane)
12. Flow
13. One Night In Summery Barceona
LINE-UP:
Sascha Blach – Vocals, Guitar, Ukulele, Banjo, Mandolin, Percussion
Kathrin Bierhalter – Violins
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Laura Barnes and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.