Sting
Mercury Falling

THE REVIEW

The CD player doesn't work. Damn. I'm forced to search through my teenage tapes for something good to listen to. So I find myself with "Mercury Falling" by Sting, one of the least known and least sold albums by the former Police singer, but not for this any less beautiful. On the contrary.

It starts with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta's roll that opens 'Hounds Of Winter', a monstrous opening track with sensational chord changes and a clean and perfect work by the musicians, all accompanied by Sting's convincing voice. The next track, 'I Hung My Head', proves to be aggressive and perfect like the previous one, accompanied by a nice guitar riff by the excellent Dominic Miller; in the finale, there's an explosion of brass and keyboards. Everything perfect.

With the third track (which we can comfortably define as gospel), the surprises begin, the guitars here are accompanied by warm voices that warm the heart, and everything is played to perfection, with Sting really at ease in this piece. 'I Was Brought To My Senses' can be divided in two; the first part starts slowly (voice plus acoustic guitar) and then radically changes tempo, transforming into a sunny and positive song, perhaps one of the best tracks on the album. The clarinet solo is thrilling. 'You Still Touch Me' once again features brass, which nonetheless do not suffocate the song; another positive song full of positive energy.
The sixth track is an interesting summer song full of freedom, but it certainly has nothing innovative, a classic "Sting" piece. 'All Four Seasons' is very cheerful, and once again the brass perfectly integrates with Sting's sound, making it more pleasant and enjoyable. The eighth track is another very interesting piece where the drums hit hard yet always with elegance and class, and the result is always enjoyable. The ninth song is a real surprise: it's called 'La Belle Dame Sans Regret', it's a bossanova and it’s thrilling. Just listen to the initial burst of drums to understand that this track is vying to be the best of the album. Sting sings in French, and it seems that he has spoken French all his life because the English accent is practically absent. A piece as unexpected as it is beautiful.

'Valparaiso' is an even Celtic piece (it recalls the atmosphere of Braveheart), and it's another track that will certainly be remembered for its intensity and pathos. The album closes with 'Lithium Sunset' where we find a bittersweet atmosphere, accompanied by the notes of an accordion. In short, the album closes in a soft manner.

There are some new features here that make the CD appetizing, but I recommend it only to those who love Sting.