It is inevitable upon the release of his self-titled debut album, 'Mercury', that comparisons of Brett Howell to David Bowie will abound, what with his androgynous facade and gorgeous glam glitter garbs. The question is, does the album hold up to the image? I think it's safe to say the answer is an affirmative yes.

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Certainly his music has the space age tropes of Aladdin Sane era Bowie, littered as it is with images of skyscrapers and aliens, but the album lends itself to a much more innocent pre-70's era, than Bowie's schizophrenic personas.

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The album opens confidently with the upbeat 'Kicking A Mooncan' and from the off it's apparent that he's undoubtedly a fine musician. Not only is he an accomplished lead guitarist, but he plays a mean bass too, also filling in on keyboard... not to mention taking a full production credit. The delicately poised production is of particular note, sparkling throughout as it does with subtle effects and shimmering sexiness.

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Confident Zeppelin-esque guitar licks abound on the title track 'Mercury', nicely complimenting the hopeful lyrics. Other highlights are the rousing '4db' with it's refrain 'drop the needle on the record and let it play', the grandiose 'Magic Man Remedies', underscored with melancholy and sounding not unfamiliar to many a Corgan penned song, and the self-affirming 'The Candle Song', which wouldn't sound out of place in an Oliver Stone road movie.

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For an album charting the ups and downs of an atypical man struggling to find a place in today's techno-crazy society, you'd perhaps be mistaken for thinking 'Mercury' would be a stark affair, and perhaps it would be in less accomplished hands, but like all good glam, it's dressed up in bright clothes, sparkling delicately as it floats dreamily by with windswept abandon not heard since the early optimistic glimmerings of the first summer of love. It's an unfamiliar sound in this day and age. It's the sound of hope, hope for a better future and ultimately, freedom.

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Written by Rebecca Raffel - Professional Contralto Singer/Performer