A Mountain Of One – Institute Of Joy
The best thing about psychedelic music is that you can put it on, crank
it up and clear the room. Then you get to listen to it all by yourself
with no distractions and really concentrate on all its groovy goodness.
Unfortunately with Institute Of Joy, the new album by London based duo
A Mountain Of One, it really doesn’t work out that way, because every
time you play it, even if the room is filled with non-fans of that
trippy genre, people like it. They actually don’t demand that you turn
it down!
Even though the band has only two members, Zeben Jameson and Mo Morris,
this time out they supplement their sound with the inclusion of a
number of guest musicians. Their core sound was expansive to begin and
with these additions, the tracks become fuller and more accessible.
There are still the swirling keyboards and guitars dripping (or is that
tripping?) with sustained notes, only now they are buttressed with
interesting bits of instrumentation underneath.
The vocals sound distinctly British and as such have the rough edges
smoothed down so they blend in seamlessly with the wistful sounds. At
times this may seem a little bit too seamless but then the music here
is more idyllic dreamscape than assertive nightmare.
Taken as a whole, there are a few moments that are so chill that the
tracks feel like they are leading to a destination that is never found.
It’s the journey that takes precedent here and as an introduction to
sonic psychedelia, this is a great place to start and may even impress
those around you.
Rob Hudson http://www.myspace.com/amountainofone
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