Mountains – Choral
[Thrill Jockey, 2009]
genre: ambient, experimental, electronica, drone, slowcore
Album review by Sovereign

Mountains is Brendon Anderegg and Koen Holtkamp, the cofounders of aperstaaje ( www.staartje.com ) a record label they build, and they have already released the first two albums of the band. “Choral” is on Thrill Jockey. Recorded by the duo entirely in the winter and spring of 2008 at home in Brooklyn, Choral is largely live and performed in real time, with only a few overdubs to create a more “choral” effect. This is a clever drone. Ambient music fulfilled with atmospheric sounds. The sound of the band reminds me Fennesz or Growing. They clearly use strings and they produce fantastic sounds. It is a fully experimental experience as they record strange ambient sounds and they add sweet melodies of the guitars as much as we need to. Water drops, thunderstorms and pages from books produce some ambient sounds over there. They guide us to a psychedelic trip through the music and over the samples and the strange sounds. Their ambient is really intelligent and this album is a masterpiece of ambient drone music, although they use acoustic guitars in some parts. It can be classic. You must listen to it if you like ambient music. It is both electronic and string orientated. It is a mix of sounds, cultures and technologies. It is a music story. Coastline, by the sea with your eyes closed, the sun hit you on the face, your skin is red, the breeze makes you feel good, some drops from the sea refresh you and your mind is over the clouds, your mind sings in a choral… you mind is over the mountains…

the album:
mountains choral 2009 megaupload

tracks:
1 Choral
2 Map Table
3 Telescope
4 Add Infinity
5 Melodica
6 Sheets Two

Sovereign