Time, it seems, has done its usual trick and flown by – can it really be a whole ten years since musically eclectic label Bella Union’s tenth birthday celebration at the RFH? It would appear so, as this July will see events at the Barbican to celebrate a full twenty years of the label founded by Simon Raymonde. And what a way to celebrate – Mercury Rev (Jonathan Donahue and Grasshopper) will take to the stage for an evening of lush and magical music made just that bit more magical and lush by being accompanied by the Royal Northern Sinfonia. For a band that has made much of layers of strings this should be nothing short of magnificent.
Whilst the plan is to play music from across their catalogue it would be more than surprising if their most recent – and first on Bella Union – album The Light in You didn’t feature heavily. And well it might as it proved that, even after seven years of silence with regard to new music, Mercury Rev have lost none of their intrinsic beauty and awe inspiring deftness of touch. Old or new it’s no matter – Mercury Rev’s flair for the modern fairytale, for breathless magical realism, is so ingrained that a splendid time is guaranteed for all.
Tickets are available direct from The Barbican, £30-£40 for the performance on Friday 14th July in the Main Hall.
