The latest single from Manchester’s Mewn—Daniel Bluer, Rachel Bell, Matthew Protz, Daniel Johnson, and Daniel Cowman—is a curious trek. “I See It Now, Pt. 1” opens with foggy reverb and distortion stuffed far in the background as Bluer’s vocals recount some sort of clarity. “Your words / They didn’t touch me / I’m afraid they didn’t touch me,” he eerily sings in the opening verse. “A sympathetic face,” he grumbles before the chorus, “But it’s alright.” At first there’s a disconnection, something lost along the way. Then, suddenly, a new understanding appears like a dud firework finally set free. During the chorus, “I See It Now, Pt. 1” jauntily picks up, determined that a change in point of view will easily bring reconciliation.
Bluer gave us some insight into the track: “I think it’s the most straight forward, guitar driven song on the record and also the heaviest. Lyrically it feels like a collage of thoughts brought about in times of unease, frustration and anxiety. Catharsis and release are never far from these feelings though and that’s definitely in there too. I think to bring seemingly opposing sounds and feelings together is something we are interested in; the interplay of darkness and light, joy and sadness and so on.”
The proggy, psychedelic trip follows their debut single “No Country,” which ventured more into the post-punk, dream-pop territory. “I See It Now, Pt. 1,” is evidence that the five-piece have a varied dynamism to their work. Their debut EP Landscapes Unchanged is set for release next month.
