2005 Albums Reviewed

'The Secret Migration' the sixth LP from Mercury Rev was the first purchase of the year. Whilst in recent years the Rev have been right up there this one disappoints somehow. Download single 'Secret for a Song' was superb but it turns out to be the best thing on display here. Which isn't to say there's much wrong with the songs here at all - there isn't. It's just the production and arrangements this time around give far more prominence to the keyboards with Grasshopper's guitar reduced to the role of supporting player. The end result is a fairly samey sounding records.

The up tempo numbers (with the notable exception of 'Secret for a Song') end up sounding a bit bland. First proper single 'In A Funny Way' though is your average Motown girl band meshed with the Mary Chain with an added Ocean Rain era Will Sergeant guitar solo thrown in for good measure. That's a crap description of a great song!

The slower numbers shine too - 'My Love' and the extremely short 'Moving On' are both terrific. But it's a sure sign that all is not well when a record disappears fairly quickly off (or down) the play-list as this one has.

More LPs to follow soon