Lost & Found by Saint Mercury

Strange Behaviour are excited to present the debut album of a producer for whom looking back has helped push things forward.

Saint Mercury is an electronic producer based in Tāmaki Makaurau whose fusion of classic hip-hop beats, the angsty jangle of post punk indie and the downbeat feel of early Kruder & Dorfmeister caught our ears instantly. Here was music that felt fresh, slightly out of step and deeply personal.

For producer Mark Linton, Lost & Found is a road to recovery, a project to invest a new direction in, a journey through troubled times towards hope and understanding.

Influenced by J Dilla and DJ Premier, Massive Attack and favourite bands like the Doors, Mark began sculpting a work with a vast scope, drawing upon his heritage and completed through a strong sense of collaboration.

These “mysterious energies” weave together on Lost & Found.

Lead single ‘Ominous Warning’ is one of three collaborations with talented Tāmaki Makaurau band Shooless, whose musicality is a feature of Lost & Found. In particular, Mark found muses in lead guitarist Locky Buchanan and vocalist Guy Yarrall. While another band member, Freya Pinkerton directed the music video for ‘Ominous Warning’.

Mark sees these collaborations as “A strange coincidence or the plans of something greater”, and the success of this meeting of minds has formed a strong partnership of creativity.

From the opening words of ‘Bardic Beginnings’ through to dreamy closer ‘Universal Love’, the album is both a message of caution and a journey through experience. Despite the vast level of detail embedded across the tracks there’s also an almost avant folk like feeling to the entire piece. This is Mark’s album, but he gifts it to all as well - from his world to yours.

Strange Behaviour is a party, radio show and record label based in Pōneke.