Head Fake’s Michael Baker – Hasten Mercy EP
Toronto native Michael Baker of Head Fake has dropped his latest solo project, Hasten Mercy, and it’s definitely quite a fascinating collection of songs even by the standards of the already fairly enigmatic performer. So, without further ado, let’s give Hasten Mercy a closer look.
Opening the EP, we have the track “These Things”, which marks the departure from the artist’s previous works. With a heavier focus on mellow synths and understated vocals, it takes hints from 80’s pop and country to create a very fascinating blend of sounds. A light piano occasionally peeks in through the mix, and overall it makes for an extremely relaxing listen.
“These Things” does a good job establishing the subdued, calm tone of the EP. It carries over to the next song “Star You Are, ” introducing a slightly more upbeat rhythm. Things get more fun as the song continues, with the synths becoming more dynamic and introducing some hooks.
The vocal performances on this EP are also fascinating, and deserve a spotlight. While the quiet, nasally delivery can seem understated in the beginning, it slowly makes way for what is a genuinely intensely emotional end result. Hints of this appear in “These Things”, and “Star You Are” does a good job showing off the fact a bit more, but it’s the climax of the EP that truly highlights it.
“I Break Everything” is a heart-wrenching ballad about self-doubt and hatred, to the point one allows it to hurt themselves and their relationships. As the singer professes how they’re leaving their loved one out of fear of hurting them, he wails out “I break everything, I break everyone, so I’m leaving because I love you”. It feels as if it’s almost a self-fulfilling prophecy, but it’s painful all the same.
Hasten Mercy ends on this sad, emotional note, and it leaves quite the impact. Michael Baker has done a tremendous job here, presenting a complete and impressive effort in taking a bold new direction. It’s paid off, with “I Break Everything” being a huge highlight. We’re excited to see where he goes from here.
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