Mercury Rev - Southampton Guildhall

ANYONE not familiar with atmospheric art-rockers Mercury Rev may have doubts over live performances of music best suited to soundtracks.

But those fears immediately disappeared against a backdrop of huge video projections and a dazzling light show.

The result was a night of powerful tracks played against a montage of images ranging from the surreal to the sublime.

The band, originally formed in the late 1980s, took the audience on a journey through sunsets and stars as they played tracks from their new album The Secret Migration.

Despite the often cliched use of dolphins and spacedust on screen, the atmosphere never lulled as they wisely picked up the pace two-thirds of the way through with new song In The Wilderness.

Thanking their audience for coming out on a Sunday, and giving a superb second encore with a repeat, light-enhanced performance of The Dark Is Rising, Mercury Rev are probably best seen on the day of rest, and will no doubt be welcomed back to the Guildhall with open arms.