Mercurial (album) explained

Mercurial
Type:	studio
Artist:	Vera Blue
Cover:	Mercurial by Vera Blue album.png
Border:	yes
Released:	28 October 2022^[1]
Genre:	Indie pop^[2]
Length:	33:17
Label:	Island UMA
Prev Title:	Lady Powers Live at the Forum
Prev Year:	2018

Mercurial is the third studio album by Australian folk musician Vera Blue (the second under the name Vera Blue). It was released on 28 October 2022 through Island Records Australia.^{[3] [4]} Upon announcement on 31 August 2022, Vera Blue said "This body of work has been a long time coming and tells the stories of my life since Perennial came into the world. This album is colourful, emotional, personal, chaotic, passionate, transformative and beautiful and most of all, mercurial."^{[5] [4]} The album was preceded by the release of the singles "The Curse" and "Mermaid Avenue". To support the album, Vera Blue embarked on the Mercurial Tour, commencing in the Gold Coast on 3 November 2022.^{[3] [4]}

Mercurial was released on vinyl on 12 May 2023 featuring two new songs, "One Condition" and "Take Your Time".^[6]

Reception

Bryget Chrisfield from Beat Magazine said "Mercurial intersperses soul-searching ballads with electropop bangers for dancing the hurt away." Chrisfiend ended the review saying, "her vocals are perennially flawless and, throughout the deeply personal Mercurial, Pavey embraces vulnerability as a superpower."^[7]

Zoë Radas form Stack Magazine said "Mercurial has been crafted with the stage in mind; it's changeable and volatile like its namesake, full of thick bass and synths, and imbued with an urgent spirit."^[8]

Personnel

Musicians

• Celia Pavey – vocals
• Andy Mak – programming (all tracks), synthesizer (1–9), bass guitar (3, 4), piano (4, 6, 8–10), drums (5, 7), guitar (7); background vocals, strings (10)
• Thom Mak – guitar (tracks 1, 4, 5, 7), synthesizer (1–3, 5–8, 10), bass guitar (3), background vocals (10)
• Billy Johnston – programming, synthesizer (4)
• Steve Solomon – synthesizer (9)

Technical

• Stuart Hawkes – mastering
• Scott Horscroft – mixing (1–3, 5–10)
• Mark Rankin – mixing (4)
• Andy Mak – engineering (1–10)
• Jackson Barclay – engineering (1, 5, 7, 10)
• Billy Johnston – engineering (4)
• Thom Mak – engineering (4)
• Steve Solomon – engineering (9)

Charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[9]	61

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format(s)	Edition(s)	Label	Catalogue
Australia	28 October 2022		Standard		4850893
	12 May 2023	Vinyl			5501531
			Deluxe		4557912

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mercurial by Vera Blue. Apple Music. 16 September 2022.
2. Web site: Vera Blue is Feeling Mercurial .
3. Web site: Vera Blue announces new album Mercurial and 2022 Australian tour. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 31 August 2022. 1 September 2022. Newstead, Al.
4. Web site: Vera Blue will tour Australia in November and December. beat.com.au. 31 August 2022. 1 September 2022.
5. Web site: Vera Blue 2022 Australia Tour . scenestr.com.au. 31 August 2022. 1 September 2022.
6. Web site: Vera Blue's 'Mercurial' To Be Released On Vinyl For The First Time. The Music. 18 April 2023. 2 May 2023.
7. Web site: Vera Blue embraces vulnerability as a superpower in 'Mercurial'. Beat Magazine. 28 October 2022. 28 October 2022.
8. Web site: Vera Blue on the emotional and sonic spirit of 'Mercurial'. Stack Magazine. 26 October 2022. 29 October 2022.
9. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 7 November 2022. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1705. 6. 7 November 2022.