The Secret Migration [Extra tracks, Import]

Mercury Rev | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 15, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: V2 Japan
• ASIN: B0001Z2XG8
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #964,081 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Secret For A Song

2. Across Yer Ocean

3. Diamonds

4. Black Forest (Lorelei)

5. Vermillion

6. In The Wilderness

7. In A Funny Way

8. My Love

9. Moving On

10. The Climbing Rose

11. Arise

12. First Time Mother's Joy (Flying)

13. Down Poured The Heavens

Editorial Reviews

Japanese pressing of long awaited 2005 album, includes one bonus track, 'Mirror for a Bell'. The 14-track album was produced by the band and long-time collaborator Dave Fridman who also worked on the bands previous 2 albums 'All Is Dream' and 'Deserter's Songs'. 'The Secret Migration' sees Mercury Rev in a somewhat lighter mood, with songs like the anthemic 'Secret for a Song' sounding immediate and forceful. If Deserter's Songs was autumn, 'All Is Dream' winter, then 'The Secret Migration' feels like spring: fresh-cheeked and infused with hopeful spirits. V2.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Secret and safe, August 25, 2005

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Secret Migration (Audio CD)

It takes awhile to figure out just what is wrong with "Secret Migration," the latest by British rock band Mercury Rev. But eventually it becomes obvious what the problem is: It's not grounded enough, and too sleepy and lush. It has some of the bones of their best work, but it ends up being a bit cloying.

The past releases by Mercury Rev have been on par with stuff like the Flaming Lips and Sparklehorse -- brilliant, otherworldly and complex. Here, the fairy-tale motif takes over, rather than orchestral pop and psychedelic rock. Ye Olde Renaissance Rock'n'Rolle, maybe, with mentions of "morning stars," white horses, sinister forests, silver oceans and fairy rides. Pretty, but not very substantial.

Musically, the band is still in solid form -- lots of epic soundscapes and rich instrumentation. Sure, they have wandered all over the musical palette, but they never fail to sound lush and interesting. The one flaw is that they lost that folksy edge -- especially the bowed saws -- that characterized their sound in "Deserter's Songs."

It starts off with a series of very grand, rich songs, which are sent up in the air by piano and organ, and only rooted by some very solid basslines. But with "Vermillion," the soft piano revs up into a faster tempo that carries over until the final round of songs, which are airy but surprisingly powerful. Synths and soft bass are what carry the songs into that pretty, if less powerful, sound.

The songwriting stumbles slightly. Jonathan Donahue's unmelodious vocals are a bit on the annoying side, but the lyrics are also weaken "Secret Migration." A few like "In The Wilderness" have the spare, grounded sound, but often the lyrics are dressed up in Ye Olde Rock'n'Rolle descriptions: "See how the rain, captured by the leaves,/Shimmers and falls, and lives on in diamond balls,/Like a necklace hung, over limb and branch,/For me to show to you, like gifts." It just barely misses being exquisite, and ends up a bit contrived.

Mercury Rev has a rare miss in "Secret Migration," which is just a little too fairy-tale-ish for its own good. Were they to ride dragonflies less often, they would sound pretty close to perfect.