When a musical project falls apart, the leftover material often disappears into the ether. For Long Island multi-instrumentalist Dylan Taganas, walking away from the unfinished demos of his former group, The Mercurys, was simply not an option. Following the band’s unexpected demise in 2024, he spent two years meticulously reworking their scattered remains. The resulting debut album, ‘A Moon of Mercury’, arrives as a strikingly personal resurrection of those lost ideas, transforming a complicated past into a bold, independent future.
Taking full control of the process, Taganas handled all the writing, production, recording, and mixing duties himself. He frames this extensive creative reclamation as “repairing a hole in the ground that was left untouched for years”. It is a sentiment that anchors the listening experience, giving the record a distinct sense of urgency. As he points out, “My band played most of the songs live, and if I don’t release these songs, who will remember them?”
Fortunately, his determination pays off across a fluid track list that refuses to be boxed into a single category. The album establishes a defiant tone with the colossal energy of ‘Rattle Stones’, plunging straight into a classic rock revival. With its massive drum fills and wailing guitar solos, it flirts heavily with stadium-sized nostalgia, yet packs enough authentic grit to keep the momentum driving forward. From there, the sonic palette widens considerably. ‘Drained’ shifts gears into abrasive punk-metal territory, channelling a raw vocal style reminiscent of 1970s heavy hitters, while ‘Live Your Mind’ cools the temperature with shimmering, Britpop-infused guitars that feel pulled straight from a Smiths record.
The project finds its most rewarding moments during its adventurous mid-section. ‘Leave Me Cut’ leans into a pristine 1980s pop-rock aesthetic, loaded with lush vocal harmonies that prove Taganas is as strong a singer as he is a guitarist. Later on, ‘Quiet Scenes From A Breaking Away’ provides a sprawling, progressive detour that nods to the grandeur of Pink Floyd, revealing a serious knack for intricate arrangements. By the time the breakneck climax of ‘Rolling Heavy Thunder’ dissolves into a wash of feedback, the DIY ethos of the project feels completely validated.
Polished by Darien Vega’s mastering at Kurt’s Sound Studios and packaged with artwork from Sam San Roman, Lily Bosnick, and Elizabeth Churchill, this is a highly impressive launch. Be sure to track down Dylan Taganas on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to witness exactly where this fiercely talented songwriter takes his sound next.
