Listening to a Mercury Rev album is a bit like having a beautiful dream - the escapism is great, but when it's all over, you can't actually remember what it was all about. The Secret Migration is a bit lighter than their last couple of outings, but otherwise it's business as usual - ethereal melodies, wispy sound effects and the gently soothing effect of Jonathan Donahue's fragile vocals. There's none of the aimless jamming that marred earlier Rev records, but there's also not quite as many memorable songs - and for long-term fans, it does sound a bit as if they've got stuck in something of a creative rut. Still, if you're suffering from the January blues and want to be transported to a fantasy world of gorgeous tunes and magical imagery, then this album should do the job nicely.
