Despite the pressure of following the critically-acclaimed "Deserter's Songs" (1998) and the gruelling touring in its' wake, upper New York state heroes MERCURY REV finally weighed in with "All Is Dream" in September: a less seismic, but ultimately infinitely satisfying affair.
Partially held up due to the untimely death of would-be producer and all round legend JACK NITSZCHE,"All Is Dream" nevertheless presented an unsettling, dream-like soundscape that the late Jack would surely have approved of, with its' lush textures couching ethereal beauties of songs that gradually glide into your consciousness.
With guitarist Grasshopper excelling as usual (especially on the closing wig-out "Hercules") and some no-nonsense direction provided by drummer Jeff Mercel,"All Is Dream" still truly belongs to singer Jonathan Donahue, whose spooked, little boy lost tones add a disquieting, otherworldly aspect to the best songs,such as "The Dark Is Rising," and "Spiders And Flies."
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Though perhaps not as mind-blowing as "Deserter's Songs","All Is Dream" - with Donahue obsessed with insects, reptiles, demons and the tarot - presents a series of songs both mysterious and intoxicating which will ensure it lasts well into the future.
Not so much rock as baroque the Catskills, then.
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