Gathering Mercury

by Colin Hay

Overview

By this, his 11th solo album, Colin Hay's records are as comfortable as a pair of old shoes that have held up for so many years you've forgotten when you purchased them. Naturally, that speaks to the cozy comfort of the fit, but it also speaks to the craft: Hay may not tread new ground but his compositions are so simple and sturdily constructed they're easy to take for granted. That's especially true on Gathering Mercury, which unfolds at an unhurried pace, the tempos never rushing, the dynamics never getting heated. Although it's a full production with electric guitars, pianos, backing voices, and drums, it leaves the impression of an intimate acoustic performance, partially because the songs are so casually lyrical in their description of the everyday. Hay doesn't make the kind of records that call attention to themselves -- they're reflections of his offhand charm -- but a close listen to Gathering Mercury does reveal that there's a lot of thought behind what seems so easy. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	03/29/2011
Label:	Compass
UPC:	0766397455129
Rank:	74558

Tracks

1. Send Somebody
2. Family Man
3. Invisible
4. Dear Father
5. Gathering Mercury
6. Half a Million Angels
7. Far from Home
8. Where the Sky Is Blue
9. A Simple Song
10. Goodnight Romeo
11. Send Someboy
12. Invisible
13. Half a Million Angels
14. Where the Sky Is Blue

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Colin Hay   Primary Artist,Banjo,Vocals,Mandola,Harmonium,Lap Steel Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String)
Joe Arnes   Bass
Oliver Kraus   Viola,Cello
Kaveh Rastegar   Double Bass
Luis Conte   Percussion
Jimmy Earl   Bass
Charlie Paxson   Drums
Randy Cooke   Drums
Sean Woolstenhulme   Guitar (Electric)
Rob Clores   Piano,Harmonium
Chad Fischer   Bass,Bells,Drums,Piano,Mellotron,Xylophone,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Jeff Babko   Organ,Piano
Cecilia Noel   Maracas,Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Michael Georgiades   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Joe Karnes   Bass

Technical Credits

Colin Hay   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Oliver Kraus   String Arrangements
Chad Fischer   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Randy LeRoy   Mastering
Cecilia Noel   Composer
Michael Georgiades   Composer
Robert Hakalski   Photography,Package Design