Titanic Rising

Product Information

The phantom zone, the parallax, the upside down—there is a rich cultural history of exploring in-between places. Through her latest, Titanic Rising, Weyes Blood (a.k.a. Natalie Mering) has, too, designed her own universe to soulfully navigate life’s mysteries. Maneuvering through a space-time continuum, she intriguingly plays the role of melodic, sometimes melancholic, anthropologist. Rough Trade Albums of the Year 2019 No. 2 See also Album of the Year Exclusive Rough Trade SessionEP

Titanic Rising approaches these modern-day problems through a distinctly sentimental lens. Mering has referred to herself as a “nostalgic futurist,” and here she leans into that title by examining the strange ways technology has shaped modern romance through the earnest lyrics and golden, gigantic arrangements of 1970s pop songwriters. But unlike Joni Mitchell or the Carpenters, whose love affairs were clouded by plain old anxiety and desperation, Mering’s love affairs are clouded by algorithms. As she seeks true love on the jaunty “Everyday,” Mering’s desire for companionship bursts forth like a geyser. When she bellows “I need a love every day” over a baroque clavinet, it’s with a herculean determination.One of our favourite artists over the last few years has been Natalie Mering aka Weyes Blood - her previous albums on Mexican Summer were sublime, but her album on Sub Pop has taken her to another level. The phantom zone, the parallax, the upside down—there is a rich cultural history of exploring in-between places. With Titanic Rising she has designed her own universe to soulfully navigate life’s mysteries.

I said at the beginning this one's a hard one to review because basically every single release from the start has complaints. Even the average rating is pretty much the same (around 4.5-4.6). Manoeuvering through a space-time continuum, she plays the role of melodic, sometimes melancholic, anthropologist. Tellingly, Mering classifies Titanic Rising – which was written and recorded during the first half of 2018, after three albums and years of touring - as the Kinks meet WWII or Bob Seger meets Enya. The latter captures the album’s willful expansiveness (“You can tell there’s not a guy pulling the strings in Enya’s studio,” she notes, admiringly). The former relays her imperative to connect with listeners. “The clarity of Bob Seger is unmistakable. I’m a big fan of conversational songwriting,” she adds. “I just try to do that in a way that uses abstract imagery as well.”

The biggest achievement of this album is it's whole escenary, from the artwork to the music, all feels very homogeneous, is a gate to the heart and mind of a mysterious woman who has suffer as all humans the downs that come with life. Titanic Rising, written and recorded during the first half of 2018, is the culmination of three albums and years of touring: stronger chops and ballsier decisions. It’s an achievement in transcendent vocals and levitating arrangements—one she could reach only by flying under the radar for so many years. “I used to want to belong,” says the L.A. based musician. “I realized I had to forge my own path. Nobody was going to do that for me. That was liberating. I became a Joan of Arc solo musician.” Movies" is my favorite song of the album, the sunken synch that rises slowly, elevating the mystical voice of Natalie who sings about taking control of her own life. This songs reaches a majestic moment with her angelical voices surrounding the whole song. It's a masterpiece. Today’s CD is “Titanic Rising” by Weyes Blood. Weyes Blood is Natalie Mering and “Titanic Rising” is either her 4th or 6th album depending upon whether you are reading “Rate Your Music” or Wikipedia. I first saw her playing support to Father John Misty in 2017 and I have seen her headlining. I am supposed to be going to see her again on 10th June which is seeming more and more unlikely but I live in hope.