MERCURY REV

Mercury Rev are back with that rare essence intact, but tilted on its axis with their extraordinary new album on Co-Op / V2, 'Snowflake Midnight' as thrilling as other milestone releases like the '91 sprawling avant-psych Dada-rock debut 'Yerself Is Steam', and the '98 masterpiece 'Deserter’s Songs', which signalled their rebirth as purveyors of a cosmic brand of the American songbook. 'Snowflake Midnight', given its injection of both vintage and present-day electronics, is less rebirth than reboot; but it sounds like a brand new Mercury Rev. Few bands can reinvent themselves even the once, but ‘Snowflake Midnight’ is the sound of lightning striking again

Mercury Rev – which remains the triangular core of Jonathan Donahue, Grasshopper and Jeff Mercel – admit they knew what was needed, though of course they didn’t know how to get there until they’d done it. Maybe they sub-consciously realised that they made albums in threes – first 'Yerself Is Steam', its jazzier sequel 'Boces' (1993) and the transitional 'See You On The Other Side' (1995), then 'Deserter’s Songs' and its relations 'All Is Dream' (2001) and 'The Secret Migration' (2005). Maybe releasing the soundtrack album 'Hello Blackbird' was the turning point to another direction. Or perhaps releasing their first compilation 'Essential Mercury Rev: Stillness Breathes 1991-2006' drew a line under the past. All they know is, they recognised a change over which they had no control. Just one listen to the multi-layered beauty of 'Snowflake Midnight' confirms that the Rev’s pioneering spirit continues to thrive.

Estimated despatch 14-20 days after ordering.