Alice Merton Strikes Gold With "No Roots"

Newcomer Alice Merton lights an enticing fuse for her debut single "No Roots". She puts the beat together like a master chef prepares a soup. First you throw in a mouth-watering bass roux that goes down really smooth but leaves a favorable aftertaste as the payoff. Next let's add the resounding thump of an infectious drum. Scatter a caffeinated guitar at appropriate intervals, a spastic camera trick to say the least and you've got the makings of a track that's definitely going to turn heads. Alice's voice commands your attention and won't let go. One thing's for sure... Alice's roots aren't tethered to solid ground. The fierce lyrics make that point perfectly plain. She likes digging holes and hiding things, a topic she and her therapist should discuss at greater length than a rootsy blog can tap into. Continuing on she hopes old age won't be a deterrent to her finding her buried treasure. It's the memories she covets most given her gypsy lifestyle. The best thing I can think of to say about "No Roots" is that the narrative's easy to follow. She's the night watchman (Or is that woman?) for her human experiences and there ain't nobody going to take what's rightfully hers. The defiant Ms. Merton asserts in the chorus that her home was never on the ground which sounds like LSD consumption at its finest. Verse 2 goes on explain that she prefers standing still but that concept at best smacks of wishful thinking on her part. Verse 3 elaborates on her mindset a little bit more by insisting that "I count the gates and numbers, then play the guessing game. It's just the place that changes, the rest is still the same." For a vagabond she's got plenty of grit. People trapped in that sort of box don't often come out the other side better for the experience. I like a newbie not short on determination. Alice isn't hiding anything from anybody. She does so in a way that slaps across the face without a word to say in apology. The intermittent guitar riffs elevate "No Roots" to the level of art that invites curiosity seekers of all stripes. She may not have a happy ending in the cards but listening to her motor along in this wronged woman persona easily compensates. Alice was born in Frankfurt, Germany so maybe that explains the militant stance. Whatever the justification "No Roots" deserves to put up its feet for a spell and absorb some accolades.