Brief Algorithms, the just-released second album from Mexican multi-hyphenate outfit mercvrial comes with an interesting hook for those unfamiliar with them – half the tracks feature guitarwork from twice-former House Of Love guitarist Terry Bickers.

And it’s not a “Paul McCartney chewing celery” sort of cameo; his trademark shimmering tones can be heard all over the record and hearken back to the first few HOL records more than to their ’00s reunion material. And to the credit of both Bickers and the band, it fits despite Algorithms being far from a ’90s dreampop throwback.

It has more than its share of shoegaze-inspired atmosphere, but the fundamentals of mercvrial draw equally from post-punk, shoegaze, psych, and heavy rock and the proceedings get too loud, fast, and direct to allow such genre pigeonholing. Lead track and single “Be That Someone” is an excellent example of what happens when all those ingredients blend together.

The band talked to The Indie Source about how the writing of the song came together:

Mercvrial Opens Up About Their Plans for 2022 @ The Indie Source