Phonology

Oops, This has been hanging around on my HD for months. Better late than never...

Mercury Rev hail from a land of twinkly dreampop where everything shimmers. Following the release of The Secret Migration,this tour demonstrates that they are still at the very top of their game. The set consists mainly of songs from the most recent three albums, the most accessible and successful of their catalogue being Deserter's Songs.However, the show is a sounding board for The Secret Migration and shows they can really cut it live. The album suffers from overproduction but in the live setting they can carry off the pomp and psychedelia. In a Funny Way, the stand out track from the album is earnest, upifting and sweet, held together with a 60s pop beat. Throughout the set Jeff Mercel's drumming is outstanding and holds the often ethereal experience together. In fact, during A Secret for a Song his skill is so effortless it looks like he's drumming in slow motion

Mercury Rev are certainly a band of great contrasts, with thunderous expansive soundscapes topped by fragile vocals and wistful lyrics. They love to put on a great show, with psychedelic visuals, inspirational quotes and theatrical gestures. During Black Forest (Lorelei), vocalist Jonathan Donahue looks and sounds as if he might just float off.

Opus 40 (from Deserter's Songs)is accompanied by its strangely beautiful video shot in black and white. It seems like this is the moment that the crowd has been waiting for and suddenly the spacious hall is filled with love. From this moment on, we're swept up into the psychedelic dreamworld of the Rev,and no-one, least of all the band, want to leave.