"Mesmerise" is a single by English
Shoegazing
Shoegaze (originally called shoegazing and sometimes conflated with dream pop) is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock characterized by its ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects, feedback, and overwhelming volum ...
band
Chapterhouse released in 1991. It appeared in the charts for 2 weeks, entering and peaking at 60.
A non-album single, it was included on the band's compilation album
The Best of Chapterhouse.
Robert Smith of
The Cure
The Cure are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Crawley in 1976 by Robert Smith (musician), Robert Smith (vocals, guitar) and Lol Tolhurst (drums). The band's current line-up comprises Smith, Perry Bamonte (guitar and keyboards), Reev ...
cited the song as an influence on their 1992 album, ''
Wish
A wish is a hope or desire for something. In fiction, wishes can be used as plot devices. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used.
Sociology
Several cu ...
''. "For every album we do, I assemble a bunch of songs that have something that I'm trying to capture. For ''Wish'', I would listen to "Mesmerise" by Chapterhouse for its feeling of abandon and "
Human
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') or modern humans are the most common and widespread species of primate, and the last surviving species of the genus ''Homo''. They are Hominidae, great apes characterized by their Prehistory of nakedness and clothing ...
" by
The Human League
The Human League are an English synth-pop band formed in Sheffield in 1977. Initially an experimental electronic music, electronic outfit, the group signed to Virgin Records in 1979 and later attained widespread commercial success with their t ...
. You couldn't spot anything sonically or structurally that would influence anything we did, but there's an indefinable something that I'm trying to capture. One night I must have played "Mesmerise" 20 times, drinking and turning it louder and louder, putting myself into a trance" Smith said in 1993.
Track listing
CD and 12"
# "Mesmerise"
# "Precious One"
# "Summer Chill"
# "Then We'll Rise"
Charts
References
{{authority control
1991 singles
Chapterhouse songs
1991 songs
Songs with music by John Barry (composer)
Songs with lyrics by Don Black (lyricist)