With the purchase of Mortal's final release, Wake, Mortal fans may be caught slightly off-guard -- aslisteners may expect something comparable to their previous album, Fathom. However, upon closer inspection, it will soon be apparent that this release is chock-full of surprises.
One of the changes which one will soon discover is that Mortal is no longer just Jyro and Jerome, but two other well-talented musicians have been "mortalized" as well -- Troy Yasuda and Ed Giles Benrock (who played with L.S.U.).
Perhaps the biggest adjustment Mortal fans will have to make with this release is in the band's slightly more mellow musical style. Don't get me wrong, though, Mortal does have some really intense and speedy tunes on Wake; however, overall it may be safe to conclude that this release bears little resemblance musically to both Fathom and Lusis. The industrial/dancy sound found on their first two releases is now replaced by a really grungy-sounding musical style. This is quite evident in songs like "Filter;" and, in "June First" and "Oceanful," one may detect hints of a Nirvana-type sound.
Also notable on Wake are several ballads -- "Speed of Sound," "Fall," a short, but very beautiful song, and "god of three strings." As well, included is an instrumental piece, "Vial," a very emotionally-charged track. "Vial" creates an almost paradise-like atmosphere (like walking on a beach), though it seems to be tainted with some very strong feelings of sadness, waiting, and contemplation.
The final two tracks deserve special mention: "Nowhere Man," which utilizes the original McCartney/Lennon harmony vocal style, and "To My Darling Whippoorwill," which essentially may be Mortal's parting words, though the lyrics are almost entirely masked by voice distortion.
Although Wake is very different than Fathom, one must appreciate their change of musical direction. This release definitely showcases Mortal's trademark innovative style, and throughout the album's tracks, their always intelligent and thought-provoking lyrical content is once again evident. Wake is definitely worthy of your inspection, as this album is a very fitting conclusion to the Mortal legacy.
Other coverage for this album
The Lighthouse December 1994Reviewed by Thom FabianThis is Mortal's third full-length album. In 1992 they put out Lusis, and in 1993 they came out with Fathom, which to this day is one of my favorite albums. Also in 1993, they were featured in Volume 5 of the Intense Live Series, which contained their "live" sound. One of the main things that all of their albums have in common is that they have grown on me. That is, I wasn't really too impressed…Similar sounding releases
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