(Song, by Toad Records, out now on digital download, CD and Vinyl)

I Will Kill Again is the new ten-track album from Edinburgh band Meursault. In this instance, “band” can be seen as a loose term, as the driving force behind the music is songwriter and singer Neil Pennycook. This latest release follows on from the EP Simple is Good which was released late 2016 and comes after a brief hiatus, when Pennycook performed under the name Supermoon. With a series of live  performances and a new album, Meursault are now firmly re-established and I Will Kill Again marks another landmark release in the musician’s growing catalogue.

The record begins with a curious opener that is simply entitled ‘…’.  The track draws the listener in with the light echoes of a restrained stringed instrument and piano. The track is completely instrumental apart from a spoken voice at end succinctly announcing the album title. It is a bold statement to open a comeback album with such an obscure track, but this lays the foundation to a haunting and intriguing album. Ellis Be Damned and The Mill mark a return to more familiar territory with proud choruses and heartfelt and honest lyrics. This tone and style continues throughout I Will Kill Again, with Belle Amie and Klopfgeist being standout tracks, just as they have been when performed in recent live shows.

From the first listen it is possible to pick up on a connection between the different songs on the album. There is an apparent lyrical connection flowing from track to track and a loose narrative that links the songs together.  According to Pennycook, “the suggested narrative of the album is told from the point of view of two central characters: a cliched struggling writer (we’ll call him William) and a ghost (Sarah).”

As a piece of musical storytelling, I Will Kill Again offers repeat listens. It is an album that invites the listener to sit down, start on the first track… and end on the closer A Walk in The Park. You will feel like you have gone on a journey with the characters, with the music taking you every step of the way. As a result I Will Kill Again is best experienced on vinyl, where the warmth and isolation of the music can get under your skin and sink deep into your head and heart.

I Will Kill Again was release on the 20th February 2017 on Edinburgh label Song, By Toad. The label itself has been a champion of Meursault, releasing their previous albums, EPs and singles. The latest release is available on CD, vinyl and digital download.