EP REVIEW: Subtle Fiction I – Merci

If British pop band THE 1975 were from Washington D.C. instead of Manchester, they would sound a lot like MERCI. The D.C. pop/rock quintet have been a band since 2018, and have released a new EP called Subtle Fiction I ahead of their debut album, which is due out sometime this year. Sitting neatly in the middle between pop and rock, this EP is made up of five songs which showcase the band’s individual and group talents. Seth Coggeshall leads the band, doing the vocals and playing the guitar. Nick Jones also plays the guitar, whilst Colby Witko sings backing vocals and plays the keys. Justin Mason is the bass player, and Jack Dunigan is the drummer. Question is, will Subtle Fiction I differentiate MERCI from their peers?

The Palm starts off with an ominous bass tone. This sets the tone for the song, which is a moody electronic number. The vocals are surprisingly sweet against the harsh instruments, which drive the song along. The electronic elements are subtly used, creating a pulse like beat that echoes throughout the song. This makes the pacing of the song smooth and mid-tempo. This is an excellent song to start off the EP.

Never Coming Back sounds like a happy summer song that would be played on the radio. However, the lyrics showcase a darker side. Talking about escaping to a better place, the song perfectly explores the darkness hidden in good times. The pacing is a little off. However, thanks to the production, this is not much of an issue.

Haunt Me is as bright as the bird on the EP’s cover. The thumping bass line makes the song feel like it should play in a club. The drums get their time to shine during this song, as they drive the song along. The production is perfect on this song. The only issue is, it sounds like a smoother version of the previous song. This means that it can be hard to differentiate between the two.

On the other hand, penultimate song, City Haircut is easy to tell apart from the others. With finger-clicking in the background of the bridge, that small section sets it apart from the other songs. The added saxophone solo at the end also helps. The song fades out. This is a nice transition into the next song. Foolish Me is the closing song on the EP. The acoustic guitar starts it off, which then transitions into instruments. Despite being used sparingly, the instruments really make this song stand out. The production makes them sound almost angelic in tone. The acoustic guitar and isolated vocals end the song.

Overall, Subtle Fiction I mostly hits all the right notes. You can tell by listening to it that MERCI have put in a lot of time and effort and the strength of the band’s friendship shines through. The production is mostly slick, despite a few hiccups here and there. This EP is a solid leadup to their debut album, and is one that both new and old fans should listen to, especially if you like bands like BLOSSOMS and THE 1975.

Rating: 6/10

Subtle Fiction I is set for release on June 11th via Rise Records.

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