Mercury Rev - The Secret Migration (2005)

A glance through the lyrics to The Secret Migration may yield the following riches: violets, leaves, more leaves, a limb and branch, a forest, dragonflies, some more leaves, a wilderness, fields and streams and lakes and trees and grass and logs, a climbing rose, weeds and other plants, a stream, more birds, roots, shoots. I am guessing that Mercury Rev have still been hanging around the Catskills. "We're off for a dark country ride", announces the opener, 'Secret for a Song', portentously. Several of the album's signature motifs are established here: noodly keyboards, crashing cymbals, layers of spacey effects and the bass working overtime. The song begins as 'All is Dream' left off, with the tension held by dramatic piano chords, but then assaults into the first of many sing-along choruses, here assisted by driving U2-esque guitar. The glorious 'Diamonds' dispenses with the stormy piano; the skies have cleared and the sun on the fallen rain brings out diamonds. It's all jazzy keyboard riffs and Spiritualized shimmers and glimmers - the sweet repeating vocal melody gives way to a final half minute straight out of 'Pure Phase'. 'Vermillion' pulses with energy, building up from a simple piano tune and restraining the guitars so they can go all staccato for the fist-raising chorus. Its mechanical beat and repeated bass notes are the flavour of the moment, favoured by a dozen contemporary bands. Here is the rub: Mercury Rev have written a (theoretical) chart hit, but it sounds like a Doves song.

This is, unfortunately, the down-side to the latest work. Absent is the experimentation of their early albums and the adventurousness of 'See You on the Other Side' which sounded like it was trying to fit in half of 'Dark Side of the Moon' alongside their newfound sunny melodies and dancey beats. That symphony of strangeness and charm, Deserter Songs won widespread acclaim for the band with its distinctive wintry feel and novel instrumentation. It sounded like nothing else. Now they sound like they're playing it safe. It's difficult to image an anomaly like 'Young Man's Stride' or a wonky bowed saw interlude amongst The Secret Migration's canon. Also, the slack-jawed awe at natural phenomena is responsible for a plethora of lazy lines: 'Ain't it amazing when the seasons begin to change?', for example, isn't the kind of, say, Leonard Cohen or Cole Porter phrase that will lodge in your head. It just seems a little settled, musically and lyrically.

Perhaps Jonathan and co. have earned this right; they can attribute their longevity, at least partly, to a knack for producing albums full of good tunes, and this is no exception. It's another ode to the changing seasons, 'In a Funny Way' that serves as the centerpiece of the album. The angelic voice echoing the Deserter Songs bowed saw gives way to a bouncy chorus, all the while buoyed upon a breezy string section. The similarly catchy 'The Climbing Rose' throws in some reversed guitars and what I swear sounds like a police siren into a magnificently noisy keyboard solo; the song contains enough kinetic energy to survive a key change and finish strongly. The Secret Migration is the upbeat sister to the ethereal half-nightmare All Is Dream, now played in daylight and rooted in the outdoors. Even when the lifting guitar-filled choruses eventually subside, we are left with two elegant pared-down closing tracks. 'First Time Mother's Joy' in particular is a plain and perfect example of fine songwriting. The piano, melody, harmony, and, damn it, the whole song is unashamedly Paul McCartney. Style and wit are not of concern. This is music to link arms to.

Tony Kelleher

Rating: 7/10

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