85. EP Review of Mercy’s Blade by Falling Over Water

Originally Published January 29th, 2025

About the Artist

I think it is safe to say that one of the most under-appreciated vocalists in popular music is the baritone/bass singer. I’m not saying they don’t get any love; they do. By now, millions have heard and reacted to Disturbed's brilliant cover of The Sound of Silence. They’re not alone in metal either, as Godsmack have also made a reputable name for themselves showcasing bass vocals. One of my all-time favorite bands, The National continue to make wonderful music as they’ve proven themselves capable of transcending genres musically, all with incomparable vocals from bass singer, Matt Berninger. Not to mention, every time David Kushner releases music, he draws attention with chart-hitting soundscapes that move every listener. However, that is just a handful of artists. When there are so many out there, it’s important to not forget how important the bass can be. No, I will not make a pun and reference that song by Meghan Trainor. That would be ridiculous.

Instead, I am going to bring rightful recognition to one particular bass singer who has released a 3-song EP. Falling Over Water is a solo musical project out of Los Angeles, California, founded by Clifford Usher. Usher, one half of the group GEMS, conceived Falling Over Water during hiatus with GEMS and while working with an artistic friend to create a dance video. This is where he would create his first song, a single called Memory Gone Cold, which released July 26th, 2024.

On October 2nd, 2024, Falling Over Water followed up their debut with a second single, To Live and Die in L.A. About their newly released music, Falling Over Water has stated via Instagram, “I guess I’m ready to let these songs be their own thing in the world. I’m relearning to let go of creations and let them have a life of their own.”

About the EP

On January 29th, 2025, Falling Over Water released their debut EP, Mercy's Blade. At around 9 minutes long, this 3-song EP features their two previously released singles, and a third song, the title track, Mercy's Blade. Mercy’s Blade was released through Sublimination. 

About the Music

Now, earlier I mentioned The National as being one of those bands that truly shines with a bass vocalist. They’re particularly interesting because their sound is most comparable to what Falling Over Water have done with this EP. I would say, more specifically reminiscent of their 2017 album, Sleep Well Beast. Usher has opted for a very ambient, reverb-saturated, sort of dreamscape. Particularly with Mercy’s Blade. His layered vocals are performed as if he were administering them in an IV drip. They have a feeling of being one constant sustenance, like I’m not well and their making me better. The instrumental performance in Mercy’s Blade is very minimalist. Guitars, synths, heavy on reverb, fading in and out of the song like memories being reflected on. A steady, constant percussive beat and a bass that doesn’t betray that performance. 

I almost didn’t notice the slow and steady build of this song because it was so subtle. It is almost relaxing. It might be the first time I have ever felt relaxed by the build of a song. Most of the time, I feel anxious by the anticipation. This time, I feel reassured by it. 

Falling Over Water picks up the tempo with Memory Gone Cold, but it’s certainly the same concept. There’s more movement, instrumentally. The production quality of this song is spectacular. The pans and levels are so completely balanced. Not a single sound is selling out the rest of the song. Every part is working equally together to give one fluid performance.

To Live in Die has the “brightest” sound to it of the three songs. The tempo is somewhere in between the first two songs. This song has more structure instrumentally. I was actually able to make out a chord progression performed by the guitars. 

The vocal performance is so outstanding in these songs. The gates are all edited to perfection. This tells me that Usher likely got this right in the performance and there was little polishing that needed to be done. The effects are precise. In a thousand tries, I couldn’t have come up with something that sounded half as good as the product I’m listening to. 

About the Lyrics

The lyrical quality of these songs are just as compelling as the musical performance. Mercy’s blade speaks feelings into existence. “What do I have to do? What do I have to say?” It’s as if I am having a therapeutic experience while hearing these lyrics creep over my shoulders and sneak into my ears. 

There’s nothing direct about the lyrical performance. It’s all meant to be contemplative. This is certainly achieved. “Now all that’s left do is let it unfold. All we have left to be, memory gone cold.” I take lyrics like that as a past relationship but they can truly be reflecting on more things than just that. 

The lyrical composition is done incredibly well. Falling Over Water gives a poetic performance that compliments the undeniably extraordinary sound of their music. 

Final Thoughts

My final thoughts are this: I would feel weird trying to do any critical analysis on this EP because it’s so good. Not that there’s anything to criticize. Honestly, most of the musicians I review are all who give performances where I hear the potential. I try to think of every performance in a way of understanding where the artist is and where they should be to give them the best chance to break through into the music industry. Some of the artists have more work to do than others, some of the artists are in the “don’t change a thing” realm-not that it’s the intent of any artist to do anything other than what they’re doing. I wouldn’t try to persuade anybody to change their path. I just do what I can to clean up the path they’re on, while they’re walking it. 

Falling Over Water are different in that, I have listened to this project and I am scratching my head, trying to figure out how they haven’t broken into the industry yet. They are the total package, musically. They’ve got a unique sound that showcases an incredible talent, originality, and a clear direction. This is a project that knows exactly what it’s doing and they communicate that expertly to their audience.

Perhaps Clifford Usher is no stranger to the industry. GEMS appear to have a large enough following to where they have possibly turned a head or two, for sure. Los Angeles is like Nashville in the way that there are several opportunities to work with musicians at many levels of the recording industry. It would be no surprise to me that this has been Usher’s experience, as well. In my younger days, I particularly remember a time where I was recording demos with my band in the dingy basement of a producer who was friends with my drummer late one night. The next morning, I was in the office at Affiliated Publisher’s Inc, on music row, writing songs and heading down to their studio to track ideas. Then, a couple days after that, I was in Curb Records’ studio, a few buildings over, laying down guitar and violin tracks for a signed recording artist. That has been the experience for so many. Some made a living playing in night clubs 4-5 days a week for 20 years. Some got the chance to play in front of thousands of people.

I say all of that to say we all have our own paths. We never know where they’re going to take us. But only we know where we want to go. I listen to Falling Over Water and I hear a musician that has made the industry his for the taking. But that doesn’t mean he wants it. Working as an artist in the industry comes with the caveat that artists have less say in what their music is, in many cases. At least it used to when the industry had stronger legs to stand on. Maybe Falling Over Water doesn’t want to compromise their art and I wouldn’t blame them at all. The fact of the matter is, it doesn’t matter. The point is to make music that we want to make for ourselves, first. Then, make music that other people want to listen to. Falling Over Water are the only ones who can say whether or not they’ve achieved the first part of that. I can guarantee they have the second one in the bag. 

You can follow Falling Over Water on Spotify, as well as GEMS here. Falling Over Water is also on Instagram.

Mercy’s Blade released on January 29th, 2025 and can be streamed on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.