State of the Nation albums; the albums that if you were to put in a time capsule and bury, someone could dig up and know exactly what England was like at that point.

The Streets’ A Grand Don’t Come for Free is a perfect example.

Well, what if someone created an album that was just ‘English’ not at any given point but just incorporated everything that is English. Merz has very nearly achieved this with Moi Et Mon Camion, or in English; Me And My Truck – yes, the romance of the title died for me as well as this point.

That is neither here nor there when the Merz guitars begin to slowly finger pick their way through The Eviction Song, and his faintly northern accent begins to warble about his lack of home. The contrast of his voice against the gravel of distinct male and female northern voices that begin to back him towards the end of the song, encapsulating the feeling of northern family life perfectly.

Though Merz is not considered part of the ‘new wave’ of English folk for a reason and the subtle electronics which lace through the middle of the album reaffirm this, especially the beginning of penultimate track No Bells Left To Chime - the track that affirms both Merz lyrical talents and his ability to create an image which is as wide spreading as his musical influences.

As with England today though Merz can get a little predictable like rain in August for example; you hope and hope for something magical but at times get the expected and as The First and Last Waltz plays out, even with the hopeful refrain of “In your Heart keep a fire for the best life can offer” gently soaking into your ears, it is not an experience that will have you instantly reaching for the repeat button.

It’s rather an experience that will force you to think about the songs that appear so gloriously randomly on the album like an April day of sun. For example, Lucky Adem, which rings so true of The Beatles to the change in lilt of Merz’s accent to slight Liverpudlian as he takes in another proud aspect of this fair country.

Merz does well to encapsulate them, as well as encapsulating the folk traditions that run back hundreds of years into English history. Merz still manages to create a record that is honest about all the different aspects of his life as well as England - whether or not they be good or bad.

If after all that you’ve still got that Chris Martin quote ringing in your ears, just forget it; neither you nor Merz needs it.