On Friday, Dead Leaf Echo releases a third LP, The Mercy of Women. Influenced by a pandemic-induced recording process that stretched over several years, Mercy shows Dead Leaf Echo exploring sounds that are both more intense and accessible than ever before. Long-known for their unique mixture of shoegaze and guitar-driven pop, The Mercy of Women will appeal to old and new fans alike.

LG Galleon started writing the songs that would become The Mercy of Women in 2017, shortly after the release of their last LP, Beyond.Desire. In 2019, the band had just wrapped a tour of the West Coast, debuting some of the new songs in a stellar performance on KEXP’s “John in the Morning.” They flew back to New York to begin recording the album, with its release planned alongside a European tour in Autumn 2020. The pandemic scuppered the band’s plans, ultimately giving them breathing room to explore the structure and texture of the songs over the course of several years.

The album was recorded over multiple sessions and home and the practice studio, with final recordings at Studio G helmed by seasoned engineer Jeff Berner (Psychic TV, Kurt Vile). James Aparacio (Spiritualized, Depeche Mode) mixed, while Joe Lambert (Deerhunter, Moby) was brought in to master. Vinyl was cut by Lex van Coeverden (David Bowie, Cocteau Twins).

The songs encapsulate the gift that the female of the species has given, from the dance hall Hacienda passion of album opener “BOO” to the forlorn forgiveness of the masses in “Forgivination.” Over a decade since their first release, Dead Leaf Echo continue to forge their own sound and find new levels of accessibility in their sound, with shoegaze-tinged tracks like “Call” and “Another Breath” destined for college radio rotations.

The Mercy of Women is out September 15 on PaperCup Music, with the vinyl release out on Lost in Ohio. Vinyl pre-orders are still available!

Catch Dead Leaf Echo on tour:
September 15 – New York, NY – Main Drag (Release Party)
September 20 – Olympia, WA – Le Voyeur
September 21 – Tacoma, WA – The Valley
September 22 – Seattle, WA – Tim’s Tavern
September 23 – Portland, OR –The Coffin Club
October 11 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Rock Room
October 12 – Cincinnati, OH – MOTR Pub
October 13 – Ft. Wayne, IN – The Brass Rail
October 14 – Kalamazoo, MI – Kalamashoegazer Festival

Photo courtesy of Dead Leaf Echo