Description
| Release Date | 23/05/2025 |
| Format | LP Black |
| Label | Errol’s Hot Wax |
| Catalogue Number | EHW007 |
The Mary Column is the indie-pop recording project of guitarist Jack Mellin (Spinning Coin, L,Smack Wizards). Very Sparrow reflects on five turbulent years of Mellins life. In 2020, a tour withSpinning Coin was shelved. Mellin then endured the profound loss of his father who encouragedhis artistic life.
The ten tracks on Very Sparrow are straight from the heart: unadorned, earnest guitar rock madefrom the madness of loss and the power of love.
The album weaves together Mellins skilful guitar and searching voice with longstanding associateChris Whites spirited drums, and features the silvery harmonies of bandmates Rachel Taylor(Spinning Coin) and Simone Wilson (Simone Antigone). Produced by Mellin himself, Very Sparrowdraws on his close community of dreamers to create a shimmering world that attests to bothMellin and his city of Glasgows position in the history of indie pop.
Very Sparrow was recorded with minimal additional tracking and its economy underlines theurgent needs of the music. Faced with massive changes in their lives, Mellin and White set timeaside to draw out the ideas of Very Sparrow, with Taylor and Wilson drafted in to lift the material toheaven.
Themes of urban alienation, need for connection, and pavement-based observations on lifespassing pervade the album with simple, aching artfulness. Raw recognition of pain and joycombines in the most natural form of the pop song.
Pop is the means to this end from the first rolling fill of It Takes Time, to the pastoral campfireorgan of Wild Light, the wandering grooves of Swimming and Hamadryad, heartbreakinggrunge in Love Can Make You Cry, the fizzing, singalong calls of Dig, Sonic Youth sensibilitiesin FUA, and the bouncing squall of Dirty Winnings.
Very Sparrow shines in the same vein as Alex Chiltons Big Star via Teenage Fanclub and ThePastels, with rich glints of Evan Dandos Lemonheads and Jonathan Richmans Modern Lovers.
Mellin lets loose his guitar and voice at the expense of discomfort for the sake of expression.
Tracklist:
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