“The Ashling” - Rachel Merchand

Music today is saturated with untalented artists signed to Major labels. It has also hit a snag when it comes to quality from the ones who once dominated the charts. However, there are groups and artists that have breathed fresh air out of older lungs, namely, Green Day’s surprise comeback “American Idiot” (Reprise, 2004) and Elton John’s “Peachtree Road”. Amongst the biggest crumbling is the horrid new album from Paul McCartney, “Chaos and Creation in the Backyard” (Capitol, 2005). Point is, we can no longer rely on the staples of music, nor manufactured Pop like Kelly Clarkson and Britney Spears. What we can have faith on is the unknown musicians who, in the day and age of newer technology, put more substance and creation into their work than anyone would expect. Of course, 90 percent of them are grasping at straws, but the 10 percent with deep ambition and perseverance emerge out of the shadows successfully.

Enter Rachel Merchand’s new album, “The Ashling”. At first, I thought I was in for just some simple lyrics backed with an acoustic guitar. It is anything but that. The amount of effort in both production and music quality is worthy of a broad audience. How this is reproduced live, I have, at the time of this review, yet to experience.

Rachel’s voice is superb and beautiful. She brings passion to every word sung and every chord struck. So much is behind her that my recommendation is you put on your best pair of headphones or place it in your Dolby™/DTS™ home theater. Turn the lights down low and relax. It is not just an acoustic guitar and a singer. What happens when you hear each song is find an enriching studio production mastered beautifully and you can’t help being engulfed by the sounds that fulfill the senses behind her. How much backs each song is extraordinary.

The lyrics are short, but they don’t need to be anything more than that. Instead of overpowering the listener with an abundance of mundane, over thought lyrics, Rachel opts for simplicity with meaning. In each song there’s not much more to say than she has already written. To me, every great song is poetic or will work well as a poem. She achieves this.

Rachel reminds me of Sarah McLachlan and in some parts, with the stress on some words in “You Cause Me to Break”, Alanis Morrissette during her heyday. Some of the acoustic ballads also remind me of when Paul McCartney was in better days. Of course, that is all in the ears of the listener. You may not hear it that way. Is it fair to put Rachel Merchand in the same league as the giants? I think it is. Also, I believe that this is only the start of a career where she can only get better.

When all is said and done, I am not making a review to tell you this is the greatest album I’ve ever heard, nor am I reviewing it in a positive light to be kind. I’ve never done that with any of my two published books, nor do I do that with my freelance writing or reviews. Now that I’ve said that, you might be wondering if there are any drawbacks. Sure, what doesn’t have them? Personally, I find some diversity on “The Ashling”, but not enough. Some songs tend to blend into another and would work better as one, meaning a change of tempo and mood within one song and then closing the gap. All about the ears, mate.

We begin with “Dreams”, a richly spiritual song with Rachel’s voice echoing and pulling out a good soft backing track and steady beat. I could equate the way the backing vocal was incorporated into the song as breath on the wind over an ocean on a lonely day. It gives depth to a song which already had it, but would suffer without it. Meaning, close your eyes and let it take you away. “Dreams” represents one of the strongest songs on the album and is a great choice to start it off.

“My Love”, the second track starts off hauntingly with a piano and just Rachel showing how powerful and beautiful her voice is before hitting in on the acoustic guitar. It’s very simple, but she shows just how well she can hold a tune. There’s nothing overdone here as it is a straightforward song with a beautiful string section intermixed.

Ok, some diversity now as we cross into “You Cause Me to Break”. The acoustic is heavier and the beat is rocking. Rachel really pulls out the stops on this one with a great deal of power and passion.

I love a swirling wind and the sound it makes, especially leading into a track. “Cinderella”, is a saddening song, both lyrically and in the way it is laid down. “I’m afraid of what I feel will fade away. As I close my eyes…” That solitary line alone is enough pull the heart strings. The song is deep and eloquent.
“Distance is Too Far” is a four line song, however it works. It, in my opinion, would have fallen apart had it been much more than a short song. To me, between the way the track was made and the lyrics, it took me down Memory Lane. Although, as good as it is, it fails to separate itself from anything else on the album. It’s not distinguishing or breaking any ground.

If I could hear a single, other than “Dreams”, it would have to be “Endless Day”. Mellow, yet upbeat and blended just right. If the vocals don’t capture you, certainly, the instrumentation will. Rachel’s playing on this is as tight as it was on “You Cause Me to Break.” The separation between those two songs is the magnitude in which the passion and vocals match so well with the music on this track. Considering “Dreams” I thought was one of the strongest on the album, “Endless Day” is certainly the best.

The lead-in of “Undone” brought me back to some of the string moments of “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Here I am again comparing Rachel to one of the great artists and their masterpiece work. Am I looking for extra credit or dealing props/kudos where it isn’t due? No. The brilliance of this song works as well as “She’s Leaving Home” did for “Sgt. Pepper.” Now, if this was a perfect album, I would have flip-flopped this song with “Distance is Too Far.” It would work better as a middle song album-wise. Once again we are treated to haunting, thought-provoking lyrics, “I am here alone and undone.”

The beautiful piano flowing through “These Tears” reminded me again of another great artist, Elton John. I know, you’re thinking, is she a copycat? Again, no, but you can see a lot of influences in her music. Her lyrics and voice combined with her signature acoustic prowess separate her into her own artist. “These Tears” resonate through hallowed halls with a plea, “Rescue me from myself”. This is another of Rachel at her best and putting forward the strength that is this album.

I’m not going to compare anything this time for “Humble”; however, I will have to say that Rachel Merchand has brought back to music the things that have been sorely missing in the age of pop sensations. She has brought personality, depth and life back. “Humble” is another example of mastering not only the acoustic guitar she so breathtakingly plays, but also the value of backing the vocals with a powerful beat. The strings and echoing vocals backing it up work well in this song and this one certainly works as a backbone to the album.

“Outro” is interesting. An acoustic lead-in a three-line lyric solidifies an extraordinary first album. On this song, Rachel relies on what she knows best – how to captivate an audience. Listen towards the end of the song for something very interesting.

In conclusion, Rachel has a strong debut album here. She has transcended amateur hour to become a true artist. The one thing that grabs me above all else, even besides her stunning musical ability and the greatness of the tracks is this one concept that eludes Major and Independent artists alike: All Songs Written by Rachel Merchand. She pulls that off well.

This is should not be a passed over album, but one that can and begs to be played over again. She has some growing to do and some things to learn about diversity within album structure and songs, but that’s true of any artist just beginning. To hit a 4 (out of 5) star rating with her first album is an achievement in itself. That is my mark – 4 stars.

Written and reviewed by: Zin Shades
The World of Zin Shades – www.zinshades.com