Mercury Rev – ‘Born Horses’ album review: whispered journeys of the soul
THE SKINNY: Ever wondered what the works of Italo Calvino would be like set to free jazz and voiced by a whispering sentimentalist? You’re not alone; nobody has. But abiding by convention and expectation has never been part of the outlook of Mercury Rev in the 35 years that the Buffalo, New York band have been about. This latest reinvention, Born Horses, stays true to that lineage.
For their ninth studio album, the veteran band absconded to a little spot between the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson Valley. Therein they duly contemplated life. Born Horses is filled with all the worldly reflection that a retreat to quieter climes breeds. In fact, it is a record drunk with dreaminess. It could find god in a tomato, and prise poetry from discarded soda can cast beneath a bush. That makes the record just as admirable and highfalutin as that sounds.
Graciously, the gathering instrumentation – a sound which sits somewhere between free form jazz and Depeche Mode pop – welcomes you into a stirring and emotive world. But in the wrong mood, the whispering awe of the ever so la-di-da prose could put you off. Thankfully, for the album’s sake, the prose is also very creditable and occasionally catchy. There are, in fact, passages that the late Calvino would’ve been happy to put his name to.
Amid horns and hallowed philosophy lies a record with its heart firmly in the right place. For many bands in the autumn of their years – especially ones that have been through the rigours of Mercury Rev – its becomes about simply turning material out and hoping it is still relevant. Born Horses subverts that: it piles all of the group’s collected wisdom, both musically and spiritually, into an album that feels timeless. Sometimes it is so dreamy that it floats right by without a whiff of grounded reality, and you’re put off by a few wayward production choices, but for the most part it lusciously sweeps you up and spoon-feeds you bliss like a much needed vacation.
For fans of: People who actually secretly enjoyed lockdown.
A concluding comment from Tom’s mother: “We’re losing him to the whispering avant-garde. No ‘normal’ people like this. Normal people like Morphine.”
Born Horses track by track:
Release Date: September 6th 2024 | Label: Bella Union | Producer: Dave Fridmann
‘Mood Swings’: It’s as bold and uncompromising an album opener as you’ll ever get. A reverb drench howl makes way for a distant horn. Then the effusive introspection begins. It’s a unique look at what makes us human in a manner that is simultaneously haunting and comforting. [4/5]
‘Ancient Love’: Things get a bit more cosmic, and the amplification on a Johnny Marr-like guitar grows in the mix. An ode stretches back through space and time. But there’s enough pitta-patta pace to the drums to stop you from sinking into its potential abyss. [3.5/5]
‘Your Hammer, My Heart’: The effects are toned down for a more acoustic sounding opening. That is, of course, if you ignore the adornment of wind-chime sounds. Sadly, the half-whisper-half-singing is a little too creepy to truly settle into. Strong and unfortunate Jared Leto vibes. [3/5]
‘Patterns’: The jazziness steadily builds towards a full EDM crescendo. This does little dismiss the naysayers who’ll call this overblown pomposity in the extreme. But it certainly affirms the album’s ambition for those onboard. [3.5/5]
‘A Bird of No Address’: There’s a Pet Shop Boys feel to this undoubtedly cheesy piece of music. However, there is such craft in Mercury Rev at this stage, that in time, you can’t help succumbing to its catchiness and emotive ’80s synthetics. After the right amount of Pinot, you might be tempted to cry to this in the kitchen. [4/5]
‘Born Horses’: The titular track is the one that feels closest to the Mercury Rev of late. Strings lead the melody, but they’re also fleeting, which is indicative of the record’s experimentation with minimalism and maximalism. [4/5]
‘Everything I Thought I Had Lost’: Mournful horns match the prose that delves into the beautiful tragedy of fading memories. At sunrise, this is bliss, at 3pm on a Monday it’s creepy whispering and saturated. Alas, every record has its perfect hour. [4/5]
‘There’s Always Been a Bird in Me’: Prefab Sprout’s ‘I Trawl the Megahertz‘ must have surely been a touchstone for this record. Here, Mercury Rev come close to its scope. It’ll remind you of places and times in your own life, looked back on from some distant future. [4.5/5]
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out New Music Newsletter
All the latest New Music from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.