Brooklyn-based duo Mountains sculpt slowlyevolving soundscapes on the terrain where postrock meets the minimalist experiments of LaMonte Young and Terry Riley.
The title-track of this third album opens like one of the latter’s keyboard drone pieces, with various elements – a tinkly keyboard figure, a few percussive rattles, a looming vocal hum, etc – added slowly as it proceeds; “Map Table” follows a similar formula with different instrumentation, in this case cyclical guitar arpeggios and electric piano.
Elsewhere, “Add Infinity” is an Eno-esque ambient shimmer, while “Melodica” features finger-cymbals and tiny bells prominently.
The most satisfying of these six pieces is “Telescope”, in which strummed guitar and an accordion or organ drone furnish a curious folk/minimalist crossover blend, with everything gradually subsumed under a wash of white noise, like sand grains blown away by the wind.
To order any CD previewed here, call the Independent Music Service on 01634 832 789.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies