ALL IS DREAM

Mercury Rev are an interesting proposition due to the fact that, despite their American roots, they possess a very European Romantic sensibility. The opener, Dark is Rising, could have come off of Scott 4 and the album as a whole feels very much like an English Psychedelic experiment. There can be no doubt that this is very beautiful music - if a little precious in its knowing fragility. It is also decidedly 'old fashioned' - real orchestras are in evidence (string arrangements courtesy of the Godlike Tony Visconti) - this is music for doomed poets - I like it immensely. However - lose one star for the dirge that is 'Lincolns Eyes' - although the track does lift if you can bear to stick with it. 4 stars - with or without Lincolns Eyes.