The Secret Migration

Mercury Rev was formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1989 and quickly grew to become leading figures in left field alternative rock. Their earlier albums veered towards experimental, off-kilter psychedelia but by the end of the decade, the band had developed their own brand of serene, piano-based Americana with the acclaimed, best-selling LP Deserter’s Songs (1998). Originally issued in January 2005, The Secret Migration was the sixth album by Mercury Rev and followed All Is Dream (2001) – which has already been reissued as a deluxe edition and more recently a double vinyl set by Cherry Red. In the UK, where the band were signed to V2, the album spawned two singles, “In A Funny Way” and “Across Yer Ocean.” 5CD – Deluxe 5-CD edition of this sometimes overlooked album, compiled by Jonathan Donaghue and Sean ‘Grasshopper’ Mackowiak. Joining the original album are a second disc of B-sides and previously unissued outtakes, a third disc wholly devoted to hitherto unheard demos, and a fourth disc of in-concert material culled from shows around the globe (again, previously unreleased). For good measure, Disc 5 revisits the band’s subsequent soundtrack album, Hello Blackbird. Among the bonus tracks are Mercury Rev-esque versions of Bobby Charles’ Catskill Mountains inspired masterpiece “Tennessee Blues,” the plaintive modern spiritual “Afraid” originally recorded by Nico, two Paul Westerberg penned gems “Androgynous” and “Good Day,” Daniel Johnston’s ode to healing “Blue Clouds” as well as a sublime Mercury Rev duet featuring Bonnie Anthony on their version of “I Never Had It So Good” (a song the band chose from Kris and Rita’s 1973 LP Full Moon). This expanded edition of The Secret Migration is presented as a plush, hardbound book containing original album lyrics, lots of visuals, and new sleeve-notes by acclaimed author and journalist Barney Hoskyns. 2LP – First-ever reissue on vinyl – and with the added bonus of a second disc. Joining the original album are various B-sides and originally unissued out-takes. Among the bonus are cover versions of Bobby Charles’ Bearsville gem ‘Tennessee Blues’; ‘Afraid’, originally by Chicago rock band Dovetail Joint; two Paul Westerberg songs, The Replacements’ ‘Androgynous’ and his solo effort ‘Good Day’; Daniel Johnston’s ‘Blue Clouds’; and ‘I Never Had It So Good’ by Paul Williams.