MEDIA
Review 1
TIMES ARE A’CHANGING
OZ-ROCK UPSTARTS MERE THEORY ARE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS AS THEY APPROACH THE RECORDING OF THEIR DEBUT LP. BY DAN STAPLETON.
Adelaide four-piece Mere Theory have spent the past few years building a reputation as one of the most consistent forces in Australian rock. With two EPs (Towering Sun and Disengage) released through Building Records, and a stack of national touring under the belt, the band has already achieved a considerable amount. But it wasn’t until recently – January 2006, to be precise – that they truly found their groove.
Earlier this year, Disengage vocalist Ryan Paterson left the band to pursue other interests. His replacement, Chris Mellow, has brought a new fire and energy to Mere Theory, and has inspired a fevered bout of songwriting.
“We didn't really get the opportunity to write with Ryan,” explains guitarist and songwriter Nigel Black. “He jumped onto a moving train – the songs for Disengage were finished before he joined. So, because he didn't write any of the songs or lyrics, it was understandable that he needed to go off and do his own thing. But with Chris, the songs have all been created with him.”
Mellow’s vocal style fits snugly with Mere Theory’s sound, complementing Black’s songwriting and bringing passion and precision to the new material. The band’s first Mellow era recording, You Will Never Win, has already received radio spins nationwide, and is available as a free download from www.meretheory.com.
“It used to be quite delicate in our band,” says Black. “We get a lot more done, creativity-wise and planning-wise, with Chris on board. There's this very positive driving force that comes from Chris. When it's songwriting time, it's really progressive and we work really fast. We all feel more comfortable with him than we have with any singer.
“He's a quirky, funny guy too,” Black adds – “he doesn't take anything too seriously. Whereas I take everything too seriously, so he counters me well [laughs].”
For Mellow, joining Mere Theory was a natural move. “They called me when they knew that Ryan was leaving,” he says, “based on an audition that I had done previously. I knew the guys pretty well anyway – we were all good mates – so that helped me slot into the band quite quickly. Personality wise, I just fit in really well with the band.”
Mere Theory’s rotating roster of vocalists (Mellow is their third) means the stakes are high for any new singer joining the group. "It was definitely daunting to start with," Mellow admits. "There were always going to be comparisons made for the first little period, which is why I'm keen on getting a release out as soon as possible: to put my stamp on things."
That release is Mere Theory’s debut album. When I call the band for our interview, they are locked away in an Adelaide studio, laying down the first demos. “In the past,” says Black, “our recordings haven't really captured the essence of the band, the true energy of a live show, but things were really coming together [at this latest session]. It’s great being back in the studio. We’ve taken three songs that show the contrasting sides to our band, given them the rough recording treatment, and are going to send them to our friends and industry contacts in the near-future.”
The three demos the band has recorded are just the beginning. “We've got fifteen new songs,” says Black, “and I'm planning to write another five to ten. I’ve always written a lot of material, but this year has been especially productive.”
While the album is not due out until 2007 – partly to give the prolific Black time to write more material – Mere Theory will be keeping busy for the rest of the year. Several interstate visits have been booked, including dates on Burn the City’s national tour; then there’s a recording session for Channel 31’s Night Live program, which may receive an independent release in the not-too-distant future.
Black feels that all the planets have aligned – Mere Theory are now finally ready to conquer the country. “The situation now, it couldn't be any better,” he says. “We wouldn't want it any other way. There's a vibe on the band, there's a vibe on the new sound, and everyone is focused. It's like everything's fallen into place. Everything's snowballing and speeding up. The hardest thing right now is to just keep up with everything that is happening.”