Mute U.S.
2003
Mountaineers
About This Album
The Mountaineers are the musical plaything of Welsh school chums Ceri James, Tomas Kelar, and Alex Germains, who are the descendants of a classical pianist, Czech gypsy singer, and trapeze artist, respectively. All of these eclectic influences can be heard on the group's second EP, its first for massive indie label Mute. Not dissimilar to the Beta Band, 21st-century pop group the Mountaineers proudly use software technology to mutate their folk-based pop songs into otherworldly creations. The opener, "Self-Catering," eagerly recalls '60s British Invasion pop with its vocal harmonies and snappy beat, but with the metronomic click of a cheap drum emulator keeping time. "Chicken" is a psychedelic woodsy stomp with slide guitar countered by synthesized whistles and again the harmonized vocals, only this time employed with a much looser blues yelp. "Radio Cat" is the most prominently modern piece, toying almost exclusively with synthetic melodies and vocodered lyrics. It is a fine selection, but it hardly stands up next to the somber piano blues of "Camped Out," where the unidentified vocalist sings "I'm not liking this fancy old way you play." Ironic since the fancy old way the Mountaineers play is what makes them so good. ~ Joshua Glazer, All Music Guide
Track List (try tracks 1,3 and 5)

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