Swordfish (Merk album)

Swordfish is the debut studio album by New Zealand pop musician Merk released on 18 November 2016 by Dew Process and Flying Out. It was written and produced by Merk under his real name, Mark Perkins.

Swordfish
Studio album by
Merk
Released18 November 2016
RecordedApril – October 2016
Genre
Length28:03
Label
ProducerMark Perkins
Singles from Swordfish
  1. "No Better Reason"
    Released: 19 May 2016
  2. "Manchuria"
    Released: 3 June 2016
  3. "I'm Easy"
    Released: 26 August 2016
  4. "Ash & Sand"
    Released: 10 November 2016
  5. "Lucky Dilemma"
    Released: 2 May 2018

Background and promotion

Merk's debut single "No Better Reason" was released to his SoundCloud on 19 May 2016.[1] His second single "Manchuria" was released on 3 June.[2] The third single "I'm Easy" was released on 26 August; a music video was released beforehand on 30 March.[3][4] His fourth single off the album "Ash & Sand" was released just on his SoundCloud similar to his first.[5]

Swordfish was then released on 18 November in CD, digital download, and limited run cassette tape formats.[6]

"Lucky Dilemma" a single released on 2 May 2018, was later added to subsequent reissues of Swordfish.[7]

Writing and composition

The albums genres are categorised as alternative pop, indie pop, and psychedelic pop. The track "Treehouse Club" is about human's overall sense of dissatisfaction and how they're all waiting for something better. Mark Perkins said, "our natural tendency is to either be consumed by the future or the past."[8] Perkins describes "Lucky Dilemma" as being about "the paradox of choice - sometimes we have so many options it's crippling instead of empowering."[9]

Merk stated it took him about six months to record the album and that he made five alternate versions to every song.[10]

Critical reception

Felix Mpunga from NZ Musician praised the album, particularly "how Merk [sic] managed to keep his project short and sweet at 25 minutes, whilst showing off his skills as musician and producer."[11] Swordfish won the Independent Music NZ's inaugural Auckland Live Best Independent Debut award in 2017.[12]

Track listing

Track listing adapted from iTunes.[13]

All tracks are written by Merk, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wonderbuzz" 1:09
2."No Better Reason"Mark Perkins, Ben Jeffares2:26
3."Treehouse Club" 3:53
4."Melody" 1:52
5."Manchuria" 3:39
6."Eat a Lemon Tart" 2:18
7."I'm Easy"Perkins, Jeffares3:30
8."Treehouse2" 1:39
9."Ash & Sand"Perkins, Alexander Wildwood3:37
10."Love is a Real Thing" 3:57
11."Lucky Dilemma" 3:10
Total length:28:03

Personnel

Adapted from BandCamp.[14]

  • Mark Perkins (Merk) – vocals, instruments, writing, producer, mixing, album artwork
  • Alice Crowe – cello (track 4)[8]
  • Ben Jeffares – co-writer (tracks 2 & 7)
  • Alexander Wildwood – co-writer (track 9)
  • Djeisan Suskov – mastering
  • Shannon Fowler – mastering (track 11)
  • Steph Norman – album artwork

Charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
NZ Heatseeker Albums (ONZM)[15] 3

References
  1. "No Better Reason by merk". SoundCloud. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  2. "Manchuria - Single by Merk". Apple Music. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  3. "I'm Easy - Single by Merk". Apple Music. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  4. merk's cool songs (30 March 2016). "Merk – I'm Easy". Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  5. "Ash & Sand by merk". SoundCloud. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  6. "merk - This the front/back cover of the CD sleeve for my album!". Facebook. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  7. "Lucky Dilemma - Merk". 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  8. Riddell, Rose (12 February 2017). "Interview: 2017 Must-Know - Merk". Coup De Main Magazine. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  9. "Merk Unveils Upbeat Single 'Lucky Dilemma'". Under the Radar. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  10. Oliver, Henry (17 August 2017). "'I'm trying not to be a rock band': Merk on the isolation of laptop production". The Spinoff. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  11. Mpunga, Felix (18 November 2016). "Merk: Swordfish". NZ Musician. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  12. "Who will the next winner of the Taite Music Prize be?". Independent Music NZ. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2019
  13. "Swordfish by Merk". Apple Music. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  14. "Swordfish - Merk". Bandcamp. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  15. "Top 20 New Zealand Albums Chart #4312". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. 26 December 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
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