Jeesus, it’s Genesis. No, Pink Floyd. Anyway, ‘Snowflake Midnight’ is gentle progressive rock for herbal tea parties. It makes for interesting dinner party music, though.
Serious, if you ever had a weak spot for Genesis or Pink Floyd, try and listen to Mercury Rev’s new album. It’s intelligent pop music with a touch of the theatrical about it. They’re from New York, but Mercury Rev even add that English pastoral touch to the proceedings.
If I had to pin down references I’d say Genesis during their Peter Gabriel-led era from ‘Nursery Cryme’ to ‘The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway’, with a touch of Pink Floyd circa ‘Wish You Were Here’.
Listen to ‘Dream Of A Young Girl As A Flower’ and ‘Faraway From Cars’ using the MP3 player below and you know what I mean.
Mercury Rev are taking their strangely nostalgic proggy sound on tour this autumn. Check dates and buy Concert Tickets online.
Watch Mercury Rev Perform Live At Hydro Connect ‘08
I can’t detect much irony on ‘Snowflake Midnight’, so I have to assume Mercury Rev are dead serious about playing this kind of pastoral prog rock. Why?
At the time (and yes, I had Genesis’ ‘Nursery Cryme’ and ‘Foxtrot’ on tape many moons ago) it was a new, exotic take on rock music. In hindsight, it didn’t deliver. Rather, it all went a bit ridiculous in a ‘Spinal Tap’ way. Those who staid clear of the snowflakes, flowers and squirrels (by the way, Mercury Rev do a song called ‘A Squirrel And I’…) eventually made more exciting music.
You want an example? Take Robert Wyatt, who consistently, from prog rock with Soft Machine to proto-New Wave to these days, made fresh, intelligent pop music with attitude. Just for fun, check out his most recent album ‘Comic Opera’ and compare it with ‘Snowflake Midnight’.
I suppose the album’s biggest achievement is that it moderates the plodding, worthy Genesis style of playing with the slicker pop ways of mid-70’s Pink Floyd. Just try playing it at your next dinner party and I’m quite sure ‘Snowflake Midnight’ will become a conversation point.
Novelty factor aside, while ‘Snowflake Midnight’ is an interesting flashback to an era that hasn’t had a revival yet, I don’t see much of a point in it.
Undecided? Trial some Mercury Rev instrumentals that where recorded at the same time as their new album but are available as freebies. Mercury Rev had so much new material, they have made an instrumental companion album to ‘Snowflake Midnight’ available for free at time of publication. Only, without the vocals you get just a glimpse, but not the full picture of what ‘Snowflake Midnight’ is like.
The album is called ‘Strange Attractor’ and is available for download when you sign up for the band’s mailing list.
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Readers from the UK and Ireland can download ‘Snowflake Midnight’ here from iTunes UK.
US Readers - Buy Mercury Rev On CD Here! (Vinyl Currently Not Available)
UK And Ireland Readers - Buy Mercury Rev On CD Or Vinyl Here!
