Legendary psychedelic rock band Mercury Rev is back with their new studio album, Born Horses, set to release on September 6 via Bella Union. Their lead single “Patterns” has received praise from Pitchfork, Stereogum, BrooklynVegan, Consequence, Under The Radar, NME, and Clash. Now, they’ve unveiled their latest single “Ancient Love,” a mesmerizing celestial piece. The band shares, “What we are today comes from our thoughts and perceptions of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life for tomorrow. Our life is the creation of our mind which originates from ancient love.”
Mercury Rev is known for their experimental artistry and challenging the status quo. This new collection is a blend of psych-jazz-folk-baroque-ambient, showcasing the band’s sophisticated instrumentation and indie rock prowess, while offering a fresh poetic perspective.
Born Horses is vocally inspired by minimalist artist Tony Conrad and beat poet Robert Creeley, both progressive thinkers who taught at the University at Buffalo, where the band was formed. The album’s title, taken from the sixth track “Born Horses,” reflects themes of flight and unity, encapsulated in the phrase “You and I,” which appears throughout the album.
Mercury Rev has also announced international tour dates, including a European tour this fall and additional UK shows in early 2025.