Album Notes

Somewhere between innovative artists such as Björk and Massive Attack, and the satisfying song work of guitar acts like Doves or Flaming Lips, lies Mercir (mer'-ser). The Seattle-based band began with two songwriters armed with an acoustic guitar, a synthesizer, and a PowerBook. Now a trio - including turntables and samples -- Mercir are taking their place amongst the experimental songwriters. Incidental witnesses to the Seattle scene, Mercir inevitably employ the honesty and ache you would expect, but the delivery is quite far from the garage; nearly every song began on the acoustic guitar and was recorded in their basement apartment. Songs range from creaking acoustic ballads to soaring atmospheric pieces suitable for film. As described by Tablet Newspaper, "It's all of the techno-perfection of the new-school Radiohead with very little of the postmodern alienation."

While Mercir is a new band, in and of itself, all three respective members have been producing for some time. Vocalist/guitarist Zadok has been performing in the Northwest for over five years, cutting his teeth in rock/hip-hop acts and sharing the stage with artists such as Black Eyed Peas, Pedro the Lion, Eminem and P.O.D. Turntablist and samples guru Colin Johnson, who is an L.A. native, gained recognition throwing massive raves and also producing original tracks featured on MTV's Road Rules, CBS' Touched By An Angel, and played on KCRW's influential radio program, Morning Becomes Eclectic. Keyboardist Joel Eby came up through a different scene, turning knobs on analogue synthesizers since grade school and eventually producing for commercial projects, most recently Final Fantasy.

The band's debut EP, Prologue, has performed well across the West Coast's college radio circuit, including Seattle's KEXP, charting Top 20 in multiple markets. It was also featured nationally on NPR's All Songs Considered. Their full-length album, As Small as the Center, is completely finished and the band is eager to match up their talents with the most suitable label. Mercir has performed at such iconic Seattle venues as The Crocodile Cafe, Graceland, Chop Suey and EMP, and have added a West Coast tour to its May itinerary. Upcoming gigs with Northwest acts United State of Electronica, Wonderful, the Divorce, Careen, and Kuma are also on the calendar for 2004.

Mercir is:
Zadok: Vocals, Guitar
Joel Eby: Piano, Keyboards
Colin Johnson: Turntables, Samples