Hailing from the musical melting pot of post-Pandemic London, the art-rock group have experienced a truly insurmountable rise in popularity since their premiere performance in 2021. Emerging from a year of toil and trouble, in the dirges of the capital’s notoriously competitive live circuit, the band have crafted an alluring aural brew of gothic darkness and musical excess. Their most recent offering completes the group’s debut trilogy of singles, which commenced in April of this year with critically lauded ‘Nothing Matters’. Unlike their previous courses, ‘My Lady of Mercy’ is an ambitious melodic trifle, consisting of several enticing ingredients which come together to create a delicious plate of alternative rock.
Emerging from a year of toil and trouble [...] the band have crafted an alluring aural brew of gothic darkness and musical excess
A percussive intro opens the track, led brilliantly by Georgia Davies’ eloquent bass guitar musings. Singer Abigail Morris’ delicately vocalises over the top of this steady rhythm section and is accompanied by skittish keyboard stabs which imbue this opening verse with a light, playful atmosphere. However, this whimsical opening soon sinks into a delicious darker tone when it transitions to the chorus, guided brilliantly by Morris as she melodiously echoes Kate Bush’s very particular brand of vocal witchcraft. This sonic shift highlights how the songstress can gracefully glide from playful to powerful intonation in the space of a short stanza. In fact, the elaborate instrumentation on this track is accentuated by Morris’ lyrics which consist of lurid mix of eroticism and catholic imagery that could only be equalled by a crucifix-wielding Jarvis Cocker. Whilst Morris’ words have enough subtext to be poured over by an entire English literature class, the true centrepiece of this song comes just after the second chorus. A tantalising bridge simmers like a witch’s cauldron before exploding into a brimstone-laced outro, encapsulating all the individual elements of this Frankenstein-esqe gothic ballad.
The audacity of concept for ‘My Lady of Mercy’ was enough to entertain even the most cynical of rock critics, but when this is paired with beautifully baroque instrumentation and poetically poignant lyrics, The Last Dinner Party guarantee that this listener will desire seconds, even on a full stomach.
Haven't heard of this band or song before, but its such a banger! Great review too, love the witchy and food imagery you throw in there. Thanks Nathan!
You have fully just started my Last Dinner Party obsession. Thanks so much! Great band and brilliantly written piece.