MERYL STREEK - 796 The Instrumentals - LP - Black/Red Smash Vinyl [DEC 12]

LP - Black/Red Smash Vinyl

Meryl Streek’s debut album ‘796’ caused quite the commotion when it was released in the Autumn of 2022. Best described as polemic post-punk, the uncompromising lyrical matter backed by a soundscape that leaps from house beats to abrasive noise has propelled the Dublin based performer from squat gigs to festival main stages in just a few years.

The bulk of ‘796’ was recorded in Meryl Streek’s home, at the time an apartment complex in downtown Vancouver, Canada. Working through the night recording drums himself in a friend’s studio and outsourcing other instruments to guitarists and bass players he knew from the industry. These sessions began to resemble other artists at their most experimental. Mogwai’s sprawling post-rock, Tortoise’s use of minimal electronics and DJ Shadow’s cut and paste sampling, would come to influence the overall sound of this new and exciting project.

It might be his signature spoken word snarl that bonds the songs of ‘796’ together, but without the rich textures backing the vocals, the tone of the record would be completely different. The instrumental version matches the lyrics with the same emotional weight, the same energy, the same joy and the same sadness, and showcases Meryl Streek’s skill not just as a storyteller, but also as a producer and composer.

Tracklist:

1. The Start (Instrumental)
2. Full of Grace (Instrumental)
3. Death to the Landlord (Instrumental)
4. False Apologies (Instrumental)
5. Yesterday (Instrumental)
6. Matter of Fact (Instrumental)
7. 796 (Instrumental)
8. Demon (Instrumental)
9. No Justice (Instrumental)
10. Suicide (Instrumental)
11. Educated Mates (Instrumental)
12. Dad (Instrumental)