28 INTERVIEW An ode to life in the Deep South, ’s indie veterans Mercury Rev enlisted an all-star cast following its release in 1968. Five decades later, a cult classic. Daniel Dylan Wray finds why out of female vocalists to revisit what has become The Sweete Delta was under-appreciated

the albumthe and play it inits entirety. back 50years into musical history. In singer country 1968,the retained such adegree of love and that potency 2018saw tour them huge success of 1998’s Songs Deserter's , abenchmark that has Bobbie Gentry followedBobbie Gentry up her No.1 To album Ode Billie Joe The ended up as unexpected ostensible upended as unexpected pop stars UKwith inthe the However, for latest their move forward group the have dipped Yet success didn’t follow, with album the never topping later crafting deft, tender and dreamy compositions, even they No.132 same inthe Billboard chart she had previously From earlier explorations innoisy psychedelic eruptions to knocked ’knocked The Pepper’s Sgt. Lonely Hearts Club traversed and an engulfing eclectic terrain sounds.of Band Mercury Rev, and across that have they time Rev haveRev re-recorded somewhat the offthe top withof her debut. Mercury forgotten cultclassic infull , aconcept album about South. life Deep inthe T with a series with aseries since the birth ofsince birth the marks 30years his year with with 29 INTERVIEW MERCURY REV 30 INTERVIEW MERCURY REV to to rotation for years. “John and Iwould listen band’sthe psyche, featuring on heavy is. Even today.”album The was ingrained in towards it and I’m not quite sure what that somethingto be quite invisible moving me Icouldn’t sail wind inthe There see. seemed says. “But beyond that, a to it be seemed for years before Ibrought up idea,” the he on album. the “I really enjoyed record the compelled by forces unknown to himto take on eachof 12songs. the of guest adifferent vocalists: woman singing ’sThe singer, JonathanDonahue, felt The Delta Sweete The back when we back when were on The DeltaSweete’s guestvocalistsinfull ALL-STAR CAST

6 nin’ Glory 5 4 3 2 1

Norah Jones Bottom Band Bottom Band Mar Sermon Laetitia Sadier Mor Carice vanHouten Parchman Far Rachel Goswell Reunion Big BossMan Okolona River go Price m

7 o BillieJoe 12 11 10 9 8

Susanne Sundfør T Ode T Beth Or Courtyard Refractions Phoebe Bridgers Jessye Lisabeth Kaela Sinclair V Penduli Pendulum certain resonancecertain to it.” just didn’t reach anyone at There all. a was TheOn Other Side was, which arecord that You that from ourwith See experiences “We felt some feelings of sympathy about time, it was beyond its time,” says Donahue. Sweete Delta one would they listen to constantly. “The bandthe were touring at and time the the stronger album thematic the between link driving through America.” There’sa also “So it asoundtrack became for us when band’sthe ‘Grasshopper’ Sean Mackowiak. tour with SeeYou The On Other Side,” says obacco Road ashti Bunyan, ashti Bunyan, ton

wasn’t that well received at the

from aproject being that might acassette be turning points of record, the that switched it according to Donahue. “One of big the projectthe to something bigger, however, Sadier.Laetitia It was one voice that elevated Nadler, , Vashti Bunyan and Sandoval, Orton, Margo Beth Price, Marissa one and includes Lucinda Williams, Hope The list of contributors is an impressive right women were just to revealed us.” wewhen beganto approach further, the wasn’t right the voice for that song. Then came to realisation the that it probably just really took me by at surprise first. I Then that awoman wouldn’t want to sing on it Bobbie insuch areverent place that idea the It was quite at first. bewildering I held music, it just to bounce back to seemed us. had emotional the if they connection to the response luke warm. was Idon’t very know surprisingly, Iwon’t name names, the of young women,” Donahue says. “And “Initially,them. we had asked abunch another bump small road inthe greeted singers and desired collaborators, but Next came long the list of favourite their VERY SPECIALPROJECT to sing it myself, and to step away from it.” what and Iknew evenwhat Iwanted to do, understand album this Ihad to go beyond that it wasn’t meant for me. For me to fully began singing it really, became really clear would who idea sing on it, but as as I soon to meas abell right away. Ididn’t have any female vocals,” Donahue says. “It was clear album, wholly to inside be of it, was through toonly way usual.needed “The into this it clear became adifferent approach was to work on versions their of songs, the However, as band as the soon began

conscious of that. To me, it was really alive. watch it before rust my eyes. Iwas really pulling things off and opening it up and vibrant. Ididn’t want to go down and start or abandoned, it and was is, still, very still Delta Sweete The some forgotten, abandoned shipwreck of towards something. Ididn’t want to raise we had wasn’t one that was calculated tamper with it much. too approach “The albumthe and didn’t want to spoil it or our own way.” Donahue was precious about our own world of view it. To recreate it in – and it doesn’t always happen that way.” naturally. It and was fun was nobody fighting says Grasshopper. “It flowed out of us really velvet-smooth. “It’s project,” special avery Mercury Rev.” From ran on, then everything that was maybethis aproject bigger than do it. That seemed to confirm inklings our hearing now, isLucinda when agreed to for and friends into something that you’re The aim, Grasshoppersays, was to “create . To me, it wasn’t forgotten OF “I DIDN’T WANT TO RAISE SOME FORGOTTEN, ABANDONED SHIPWRECK SHIPWRECK ABANDONED FORGOTTEN, SOME RAISE “I DIDN’TWANT TO I REALLY SHINEONIT, ALIGHT TO WANTED AMERCURY REV LAMP” THE DELTA SWEETE DELTA THE

people had previously away walked from. archaeological digand had found something and prove to people that we were on some down and dust offsome tombsomewhere formedfully rather than wanting to go It was like discovering an island that was . TO ME, IT WASN’T FORGOTTEN OR ABANDONED. OR ABANDONED. WASN’T ME, IT FORGOTTEN . TO floating melodies and dreamy immersive flowing,trademark sounds of Mercury Rev: different and much thanbigger me.” occupied bybe spirit the of something much something. Just allowing that empty spaceto I’ve had musically not –actually doing it. It’s probably one of moments best the back and allowing women the to sing on colour. Iwas grateful to myself for stepping things gowhen from black and white to was like that moment inThe WizardOf Oz female landedthe on vocals tracks it the intosee it far,” so Donahue says. “But once togroup.the floor remotely. What to started come back began into studio their to record and others worked somethen of contributors the were brought front, with Donahue doing and guidevocals, lamp.”a Mercury Rev I really wanted to shine alight on it, The result is a recordthat hums withthe “From Icould perspective, amale only bandThe wrote most the of music up

Bobbie Gentry shot Bobbie Gentry from thepubliceye self-penned classic but chosetoretire Ode To BillieJoe, to famewithher in theearly80s

31 31 INTERVIEWINTERVIEW PHILMERCURY REV 32 INTERVIEW MERCURY REV a number of women the returned tracks, the a profound of sense intimacy. waythat “The For Donahue, capture guest the vocals around compositions the and guest vocals. flavourcountry is leftdrift to intimate, yet alick of original once grand both and deeply soundscapes that are at is available now from is availablenowfrom Sweete Revisited Sweete Revisited Rev’s on Bella Unionon

180g vinyl Mercury Mercury The Delta The Delta

I want to that.” respect where she would have to come out of that. want to disturb that or put her inaposition Bobbie is inBobbie’s own world. Ididn’t I can’t of certain how be recorded they them, but intimacy on the they when vocals the that. That thatwe thewould fact respect HAVE HORIZON” BEONTHE RECEIVED MIGHT INTEREST, IT SO WOULD BE LIKE GETTING 12 KITTENS IN A BASKET. BUT WE INABASKET.WE BUT 12KITTENS GETTING BELIKE WOULD

“IF YOU LOOK AT THE NAMES ON THE ALBUM, TOURING IT ALBUM,IT TOURING ONTHE LOOK AT NAMES “IF YOU THE are isolated, it sound like does maybe

“Early on, Iwas quite resolute about a few of were them just intheir Donahue that was never point. the results of project. this But for bedroom recording. It has that it’s unlikely she’ll everhear the proximity,close emotionally.” in astate of exile self-imposed However, with Bobbie Gentry

passion project results oftheirpersonal both delightedwiththe Jonathan Donahueare Grasshopper and Rev’sMercury project was meant to be.” ● of faith involved that whole inthe idea this opening up to me. There waslarge a leap you leave studio, the but one this just keeps as long as you would imagine they when Sometimes somecase. records don’t last better to my ears, isn’t which always the one of records those that just keeps getting moon about result,” the Donahue says. “It’s dreams or expectations. “We’re over all the to aplace and form way beyond their having produced an album that has evolved ItCale. could work inthat context.” –similartime to how we worked with John others couldn’t who record with us at the a bunch of singers, the and maybeafew would love to dosome shows and get wereMercury Rev involved with). “We Velvet Underground’s debut seminal (which and his guest performers on taking The cities an to be option, alittle like maybedoingsees one-off shows in key itso might on be horizon.” the Grasshopper have received alot of interest to performit, Donahue. “It would quite be difficult, butwe like getting 12kittens in abasket,” says names on album, the touring it would be difficulties.logistical “If lookyou the at that touring it opens up awhole world of It leaves project the inaunique place, in A LEAPOFFAITH In meantime, the for settle pair the will