The Legendary Ten Seconds: “Mer De Mort” (2019) CD Review

I was turned onto the music of The Legendary Ten Seconds because of their many songs dealing with Richard the Third, a fascinating and maligned character from history. The group has released five albums of music dedicated to that subject. Yet those five albums are but a small portion of the output of this unusual band and its prolific leader, Ian Churchward. Mer De Mort contains songs about the Mortimer family, and was released in 2019, commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Mortimer History Society, which was founded in 2009 to provide a forum for those interested in the Mortimer dynasty. All the songs on this album were written or co-written by Ian Churchward, who also provides the lead vocals and plays guitar, mandola and mandolin. Mike Zarquon (who goes by the name Lord Zarquon) is on keyboards, mellotron, bass and drums. Several other musicians and vocalists join them on various tracks. As on the band’s Richard III album, this disc contains some narration. Though unlike that earlier album, the sections of narration are not given their own separate tracks. The narratives were written by Philip Hume and read by John Challis.

The first track, “Mortimer Overture,” begins with a brief bit of narration: “The songs on this album highlight some of the dramatic events in the lives of the Mortimers, lords of Wigmore, earls of March.” The tune itself is an instrumental, setting the tone and getting us in the proper mood. “The origins of the powerful Mortimer family at Wigmore were in Normandy,” John Challis tells us at the beginning of the next track, “Mortemer Castle.” The family took its name from the castle there. And then the song itself provides a history lesson. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “In the year 1054 a battle it was set/A lord led his army out to meet the threat/Roger de Mortimer, the first of that name/Of that noble family of everlasting fame.” The first of that name, indeed. There will be many others of that name before the story is finished. Anna Bolt and Guy Bolt joins Ian Churchward on vocals for this track, adding a beauty to the chorus. This track features some good work on guitar, particularly during that instrumental section in the middle. This song was written by Ashley Mantle and Ian Churchward.

At the beginning of “The Marcher Lords,” there is some narration about how the family dominated the country, how they became “one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the country, and were key players in national events.” The chorus of this song is particularly catchy, and by the third time it is sung, you might find yourself singing along: “The Marcher lords are we/Masters of our destiny/Oh, the Marcher lords are we/If you cross our path tread carefully/Oh, the Marcher lords are we.” And during the instrumental section, you get the feeling there is some action unfolding, some political event the family is effecting. This song was written by Ashley Mantle and Ian Churchward, as was the song that follows it, “When Christ And His Saints Slept.” The narration at the beginning is about Hugh Mortimer, who led the royal forces in the twelfth century and founded Wigmore Abbey. This song is one of my favorites, in part because of the lyrics, which speak to us here in the U.S. at this dubious point in our history. Lines like “With civil war nobody wins” and “The rich man thinks himself a king” stand out, and Ian Churchward’s delivery has the appropriately somber note. Plus, Elaine Churchward adds her voice to the chorus, adding a certain beauty. The song ends as King Henry the Second gains the throne, bringing us to the year 1154.

The narration at the beginning of “De Montfort” tells us of the victory of Roger Mortimer (a different Roger Mortimer) over Simon De Montfort and how he sent his wife Simon’s head. No one gets gifts like that anymore. This song also has a somber vibe, which draws us in and is fitting for the subject. This album is really a great history lesson. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Once held in confinement/Prince Edward escaped in May/Roger Mortimer had helped him/In royal favor he then did stay.” Fleur Elliott provides the backing vocal work on this track. This track also features some good work on bass. That’s followed by “The Round Table 1279,” which is delivered without narration. In this song, Ian Churchward creates the feeling of a tournament and the pageantry at Kenilworth Castle. There is narration at the beginning of the next track, “Two Thousand Marks”: “His grandson, another Roger Mortimer, ruled the country for nearly four years, having forced the king to abdicate.”  This song tells the story of that Roger Mortimer, this one the first Earl of March, focusing on his marriage at the age of 14. This is another of my favorites, and it features Jules Jones on backing vocals. “The Privy Seal And The Royal Shield” is also about Roger Mortimer, the first Earl of March, and also features Jules Jones on backing vocals. The song is about the Battle of Bannockburn, and Roger’s part in it. “Roger led men from his estate/Defeat at Bannockburn was their fate/Protecting the flight of their king/Of Roger’s honor I will now sing.” There is no narration on this track.

“The King Of Folly” is also without narration. It opens with some work by Ashley Dyer on trumpet, as calling us to attention, announcing a royal occasion. The action of this song takes place in 1329: “During the year 1329/At Wigmore the king of folly did dine/At the castle his son declared/The king of folly you will find there.” I am going to need to read a book on the history of this family, because there is a lot to keep track of here. There are just too many damned people named Roger Mortimer, but I believe this one is still about the first Earl of March, who died in 1330. There is no narration for “The Tragedy Of Roger Mortimer And The Mystery Of Edward II” either. Instead, this track begins with some memorable work on guitar. On this track, the vocal work has a somewhat more intimate quality. Partly, that is due to the fact that not as many instruments are backing his performance. “At Berkeley Castle the legends stated/A crime so evil was perpetrated/Edward the Second, a king deposed/Was he murdered cruelly, no one knows/A Mortimer for the king's death blamed/As a traitor he would be later named/Yet I hear there are those that say/That Edward did not die that day.” Rob Bright is on lead guitar for this track, delivering some wonderful work. Elaine Churchward adds some beautiful backing vocal work. This song, which is also about the first Earl of March, ends gently. It was written by Ashley Mantle and Ian Churchward.

At the beginning of “Leintwardine,” we get a little narration that mentions “his grandson, yet another Roger Mortimer,” who “re-established the fortunes of the family so successfully that he was able to marry his son into the royal family.” This is a pretty song. Violet Sheer and Rowan Curle join Ian Churchward on vocals for this one, and their work is part of the beauty of this track. The instrumental sections are also rather mesmerizing. That’s followed by “Mer De Mort,” the album’s title track, which begins with a short piece of narration: “In the early years of the Lancastrian monarchy, there were repeated rebellions in the name of Mortimer, claiming that they were the rightful kings.” There is something of a 1960s folk element to this song, as well a beauty. It is based on a poem by Margot Miller. “Roger and I, just young boys/Forced to be Bolingbroke toys/Mortimer heirs, we are distraught/To Windsor we are now brought.” This song is told from the perspective of Edmund Mortimer (and, yes, he had a brother named Roger, mentioned in those lines). Elaine Churchward joins Ian Churchward on vocals. This is another of the album’s highlights. “Mer De Mort Part Two” does not have any narration. It begins in a somber place, reflected in its first lines: “My brother has no tomb/Such sadness to reflect/Who he was, how did he die/Only I will not forget.” The next verse continues that feeling, only now it is his mother who has died. This song is powerful in its straightforward delivery. Elaine Churchward provides some backing vocal work here too.

Narration at the beginning of “Henry VI” tells us, “Finally, in 1425, with the death of the childless Edmund Mortimer Fifth Earl of March, the vast Mortimer inheritance of estates and titles across England, Wales and Ireland, together with a claim to the throne, passed to Edmund’s nephew, Richard, Duke of York.” One thing we always hear about Henry VI is that he was weak. Here Ian Churchward sings, “Henry the Sixth, his reign so weak/Henry the Sixth, his thoughts so meek/Henry the Fifth’s only child/Henry the Sixth, so meek and mild.” I love the playfulness of this stanza: “To Margaret of Anjou he was wed/With not much action in their bed/Somehow a child was yet conceived/And the Duke of York was not well pleased.” That’s followed by “Sunnes Of York.” The narration tells us: “Thirty-five years later, the Mortimer inheritance was the key that unlocked the crown for the House of York.” And, hey, if I somehow implied this album was not going to mention Richard III, here is a taste of this song’s lyrics: “The sunnes of York, of York three sons/So infamous one would become/Edward the Fourth, George and Richard/Their brother killed by Lord Clifford.” So there! This album is a perfect prequel to the band’s Richard III albums. Pippa West provides some beautiful backing vocal work on this track. The album concludes with “The Chapel Of St. John,” which was written by Elaine Churchward and Ian Churchward, and has no narration. There is kind of a dark vibe to this song, matched by lines like “Centuries slowly slipping by/The secrets they lie sleeping.” Fleur Elliott provides backing vocal work on this one.

CD Track List

1. Mortimer Overture
2. Mortemer Castle
3. The Marcher Lords
4. When Christ And His Saints Slept
5. De Montfort
6. The Round Table 1279
7. Two Thousand Marks
8. The Privy Seal And The Royal Shield
9. The King Of Folly
10. The Tragedy Of Roger Mortimer And The Mystery Of Edward II
11. Leintwardine
12. Mer De Mort
13. Mer De Mort Part Two
14. Henry VI
15. Sunnes Of York
16. The Chapel Of Sir John

Mer De Mort was released on May 1, 2019.