The sheer thrill of finding that Mercury Rev were returning with artwork very reminiscent of their classic Deserter’s Songs album was overpowering. Main man Jonathan Donahue was once a member of The Flaming Lips and it’s amazing how both bands have chosen to travel the same roads. Early Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips records can be hard work to get through. Experimentation was king and although you could tell they knew their way with a melody, they would bury any chance of popularity by sounding like they were off their heads. Which they most likely were.
Mid-period albums would suddenly find the bands become major league stars, no coincidence that Dave Fridmann was the man behind the desk for their most successful albums. Despite the mainstream appeal, both acts would decide that artistic creativity would take over once again as album after album increasingly frustrated this listener. The Flaming Lips would rediscover their form again with the wondrous American Head album. So what of Mercury Rev and their new album, also on Bella Union, entitled Born Horses. Lead track ‘Patterns’ found Jonathan employ spoken word rather than soar with his usual almost falsetto croon. I need to get it out there early doors, this vocal manoeuvring remains for the rest of the album. For some, it will be a deal breaker.
Opening track ‘Mood Swings’ starts with a jazzy trumpet (?) soloing over a booming double bass that reverberates around your head. The instrumentation is lush and smoky, which is the perfect background for Jonathan to inform us about his mindset. There’s a dreamy beauty with how the track plays out as the trumpet returns for more freestyling. Blazing guitar scorches the surface of ‘Ancient Love’ that features elegant piano tones over a samba beat. Once again brass leads the way with some spectacular soloing. ‘Your Hammer, My Heart’ slows the pace with a beautiful sprinkling of starry percussion, cinematic strings, piano and organ. There are so many layers to the instrumentation that Jonathan’s voice becomes almost coincidental. It’s only when the layers are stripped away that your focus switches to what he speaks, and he almost starts to sing with full flight at one point.
The flickering piano that hovers over ‘Patterns’ like fireflies in the moonlight is absolutely gorgeous. Booming timpani adds a depth as the recurring motif of guitars and piano bring an uplifting wave of joy. ‘A Bird Of No Address’ finally finds Jonathan allowing himself to sing but it’s almost a monotone melody. Fizzing synths or brass swirl around some Disney-esque strings and orchestral level percussion. The layers of instruments on this track are magnificent, every listen reveals a host of new sounds. At the end of the track Jonathan finally allows himself to soar just a little and it’s blissful. ‘Born Horses’ manages to make strings sound like horses neighing. I can picture huge equestrian creatures running in slow motion along a beach on a windswept day with this as the soundtrack.
The mournful ‘Everything I Had Lost’ has a backdrop of reverbed brass and piano rolls. The instrumentation is more spacious and less adherent to any structure or hook that you can hold onto. Taking the cue, the drums take off at the end of the track with some spurious travelling of the kit. ‘There’s Always Been A Bird In Me’ eschews the jazzy instrumentation for an 80s rock power beat and guitars play a more prominent role. Having said that, there’s also a plethora of swooshes and swirling strings and piano.
It’s still difficult for me to come to terms with the approach that Mercury Rev have opted for with this album. The instrumentation and production are simply wonderful from start to finish. It’s a stunningly arranged album and there must have been a considerable time spent planning and recording. Jonathan Donahue is possessed of a beautiful singing voice. I wanted so much for him to just take off on these songs, and he nearly does in places. I find I must be in the right mood to be able to enjoy this record, and that’s a shame as it is truly remarkable in terms of arrangement. Born Horses is an elegant and magical album that only Mercury Rev could have made.
