Alexander Gow is one of Australia’s most acclaimed singer/songwriters. His musical outlet Oh Mercy have released three full-length albums and three EPs, with a fourth record to be released later this year on Casadeldisco. One of the most noted aspects of the band is the ever-changing approach to music, as each new release presents a different side of Gow and a different style of music. Their 2009 debut album Privileged Woes can be thought of as a precursor to Foxygen, purporting an equal-parts acoustic and fuzzy lackadaisical sound that perfectly accompanies a morning spent riding out a hangover. The 2011 follow up Great Barrier Grief continues to showcase Gow’s laid back singing style and poetic yet realistic lyrics but backs them up with more of a driving groove and an almost entirely acoustic pop sensibility. 2012’s Deep Heat saw Gow pushing more on his vocal technique as well as introducing more electronic elements, giving the album much more psychedelic undertones and an overall funkier feel; think Roxy Music meets The Clash.
The new Oh Mercy album was written across three cities in American while Gow was isolated and preoccupied by romantic sabotage. The first single “Sandy” was written in Nashville while he was walking to a Mexican restaurant. Even though it has that distinct summer sound and pop lyrics, there is a sense of the foolish notion of taking love for granted.
On the new single, Gow states: “Sandy is a fast song. Faster than the other ones. Or slower. It really just depends on how you count the bars. And which song you compare it to. Faster than a real slow song. Slower than a real fast one. Sandy is a stuck-in-the-middle kind of song. I wrote it in Nashville. I was walking to a Mexican restaurant. It’s about self loathing. And self loathing by way of resenting someone who loves you. Just for loving you! (what a world!!!). It’s a little about needing it. But wishing you didn’t need it. In the end you’re damn glad you got it.”
The video for “Sandy”, shot in Sydney, Australia, has a sense of the bizarre, a Twin Peaks meets Virgin Suicides approach to lost love and the final goodbye. “Making the “Sandy” music video was a blast. The dancing girls are adorned with 100% polyester, pink and peach 70’s dresses. They did a fine job of pulling a Lazarus, leaping out of their coffin for a little Kate Bush-inspired boogie. It’s pink, real pink. Pink is my favourite colour. “Sandy” makes an appearance too. I can see her.”
Oh Mercy are no strangers to critical acclaim, in fact, they’ve been receiving it practically non-stop since their inception. Making Wireless Bollinger’s ’10 Bands to Watch in 2008′, they’ve accrued a bevy awards in the time since, including the Redbull Outstanding Potential AMP Award in 2009, the EG Outstanding Achievement Award in 2012 as well as nominations for four ARIA Awards (Breakthrough Artist, Best Cover Art, Best Rock Album, and Best Cover Art again) and a nomination for EG’s 2012 Best Group Award. The song “A Place Too Far” from their debut EP won them a Triple J Unearthed spot at Big Day Out Melbourne in 2008, an incredible feat for a band who had only previously played ten shows. Their breakout album Great Barrier Grief was released in 2011 and debuted at number thirteen on the Australian ARIA album chart and was nominated for two ARIA awards. The band has also been fortunate enough to have toured in support of bands such as Kaiser Chiefs, Ben Folds Five, Temper Trap, Father John Misty, and more.
Oh Mercy is now playing on TMN Radio.