Review in CMJ Monthly

See You On The Other Side

Mercury Rev's latest album is a perfect example of regression as progress. From the oddball buzz of its earlier records, it's made an unlikely move back to a simpler psychedelia of tambourines, pastoral flute flourishes, and antique synthesizers. The arrangements are generously lush, piling layers of instrumentation onto songs of sweet naivete. With its mellow, soulful swing, "Sudden Ray of Hope" could be the soundtrack to the resurrection of that whole Summer of Love idea-only instead of folk-singing hippies, there'd be jazz men to play sultry sax solos in the streets. Much less subtle is "Young Man's Stride," an eager, sexy song with an insistent riff and spacey side effects. "Everlasting Arm" recalls Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys, at least until its sweet choruses give way to off-kilter circus horns and glockenspiel, making it sound more like an outtake from Sgt. Pepper's. The lengthy "Racing the Tide" is clearly intended to be climactic-"I'm so close, I'm almost inside..." the band sings orgasmically over breaking waves of cymbals and squeaky trumpet-like crying seagulls. From there it's an effortless slide into "A Kiss From an Old Flame (A Trip to the Moon)" whose maracas and bubbly organ create the feeling of falling asleep while watching Lawrence Welk. See You On The Other Side evokes old sounds without becoming a nostalgia trip, inspiring more affection than a million tribute bands.

File Under: Jazz-tinged psychedelia

Recommended If You Like: Shrimp Boat, Primal Scream, trippier Beach Boys

-by Andrea Moed

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