Sting: Mercury Falling - 1996

 

This one is by far the best of the next three Sting albums. Sting's compositions here are multi-layered, soulful offerings from a master craftsman who clearly loves creating music. Never mind his supposed pretentions - the guy could knock out a tune in his sleep and is a most underrated lyricist. High quality instrumentation is all over this album - as always. 

The Hounds Of Winter is a lovely, laid-back piece of typical Sting meaningful groove, featuring the afore-mentioned high quality instrumentation and sound, as I said - as always. I Hung My Head is catchy and rockingly infectious and has a great sax sound on it. I love this one. 

The lengthy Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot was a popular number from the album and is gently soulful, with a nice bassy backbeat. The sparse I Was Brought To My Senses is hauntingly beautiful with an initial vocal and acoustic melody (with subtle Uilleann pipes) that brings to mind his If On A Winter's Night album. When the song breaks loose it is similarly fetching and gentle, with an enchanting rhythm. 

You Still Touch Me is a laid-back, slightly reggae-backed number while I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying is a thoroughly delightful piece of melodic country rock, steel guitar and all. All Four Seasons is an attractive Stax-influenced brassy soul number. This is another one I really like - get a load of those horn breaks and the fatback drums. Sting's voice is at its souliest. The horn-driven soul feel is continued on the equally impressive Twenty-Five To Midnight. 

A captivating world music (mainly Brazilian) drum backing can be found on the engaging La Belle Dame Sans Regret, which has Sting singing in French. It features some nice Latin piano too. Valparaiso is a vocal, acoustic and violin beguiling ballad enhanced by a fine rhythmic bit at the end. Lithium Sunset is a mid-paced and attractive, once more country-influenced number.

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