In her review of The Hunting Room, the debut album from alt-pop duo Her Royal Harness, Notion’s Hayley Fox commented on how, “pop streams out of this record like a gushing waterfall but it’s got a rich expressive twist apparent throughout.” Nowhere is this truer than on its opening track – and now second single – ‘Mercenary Man’. It’s at once playful and richly layered, built from the ground up on marching drums, glistening electronics courtesy of producer Dylan Long, and Helene Jaeger’s towering vocals.
Perhaps it’s unsurprising that ‘Mercenary Man’ is dominated by an almost military precision to its sense of rhythm – the title should be a bit of a giveaway – but what still shines through is the track’s innate sense of fun. What could have been an abrasive, overly tribal affair is instead sent skyward by its lofty, infectious melodies and stargazing chords. No matter what they’re moniker may imply, this duo are not being held down easily.
- Alex Cull
‘Mercenary Man’ sees release Sept 9 on Manufacture. The Hunting Room is available now – you can purchase it here.
