GOOD LUCK MOUNTAIN TOO
2014 – At The Helm Records
Former ‘Tandy’ main man Mike Ferrio, even when his band were known as one of the best alt. country bands around, never toed the genre specific line; certainly much of their music could be slotted into alt. country stylistically but there was always a very strong sense of originality that didn’t really fit anywhere! It was a similar situation with his first ‘Good Luck Mountain’ album, a recording that whilst excellent seemed to be steering gently away from country music although elements were still discernible
Sometimes we talk about ‘unusual’ recordings but this tremendous second album by Mike’s ‘Good Luck Mountain’ virtually defines that word. The thread running through the disc is one of mellow sounds and warm vocals but there is a lovely feeling of moody, slightly unsettling introspection that gives the album great depth. At no time does it ‘rock,’ always having a mellow melodic sound but conversely also includinng an incredibly powerful intensity that sometimes has a strong spooky element.
Mike writes highly descriptive songs that are tied up in the ‘human condition’ but in a way that is so different to what anyone else is doing. His instrumentation, or more particularly, his arrangements, are unmistakably by someone who is a completely unique lyricist and arranger of his songs. The tales all have a mellow, reflective feel in a powerfully haunting rural setting, in a similar vein to albums such as the late John Denvers ‘Rocky Mountain High,’ but with a much stronger air of mystery. It is impossible to overstate that intense, yet mellow sense of introspection that is mixed up with a wide open spacy feel, one that is at the same time often overwhelming in its depth. Whilst these songs are lacking in dynamism the album is none the less totally addictive, repaying with interest constant rotation!
All songs were written by Mike Ferrio except for one co-write with Ana Egge, Mike, as well as lead vocals, also plays guitars, harmonica, Wurlitzer and electric piano. Ana adds some sublime harmonies to the recording, with further vocal help coming from Matt Mays and Malcolm Holcombe. The core of musician support is Konrad Meissner on drums and percussion, Jason Mercer, bass and banjo, Eleanor Whitmore, violin, mandolin and vocals and Chris Masterson on electric guitars, mandolin and vocals. At times there are some quite unusual effects which add a strange otherworldly air to proceeding,s but they are never over the top and do genuinely add to the atmosphere.
White Calico Flowers is a sprawling epic tale that has a lovely gentle, meandering, atmosphere but with an underlying tension, on a song that is generically indefinable with hints of so many roots offshoots. At its core it is an enticingly reflective love song that has a high lonesome feel both musically and thematically. At times the talk vocal has the atmosphere of Van Morrison in one of his heavilly mystical moods, with leanings towards a powerful folksiness and cinematic scope with gentle instrumental changes and an intensity that rises and falls. A melodic guitar gets Apollo under way on a song that has a strong country feel although Mike Ferrio’s songs are never quite that simple. There is a cinematic story telling feel to this excellent song that includes banjo and some lovely warm feminine harmonies. The tempo is upped a little on Maps Of The Moon, a song that creates a similar atmosphere to the best of Calexico. There is a mellow lead vocal from Mike Ferrio and lovely female harmonies, with excellent piano and violin on a song that has a catchy melody and a flowing dramatic intensity mixed in with the mellow sound. That is followed by Seawall a song that begins with a tremendous bass intro which picks up again during the song with aggressive electric guitar, powerful percussion and melodic harmonies. It is a really strange brooding, almost otherworldly, song that has a quite spooky atmosphere thanks to it’s unusual arrangement. Final mention goes to Angels, a song that has an eerie guitar intro before being joined by the powerful bass, then Mike’s breathy vocals join in with a haunting female harmony. It is a love song that is partly driven by a spooky fiddle and could easily be an old Appalachian ballad with a modern but sympathetic arrangement. It is a haunting incessant tale that slowly builds in intensity, holding back before any sign of a crashing crescendo, but only just!
This whole album has an otherworldly melodic yet intense feel that is redolent of the old Appalachian music, with arrangements that whilst modern are in many ways out of time, such is the unique talent of Mike Ferrio and his Good Luck Mountain project. Although I have yet to give much thought to year end lists, this tremendous, unique and highly original album will without any doubt finish in a high position on that list!
http://goodluckmountain.com/
Former ‘Tandy’ main man Mike Ferrio, even when his band were known as one of the best alt. country bands around, never toed the genre specific line; certainly much of their music could be slotted into alt. country stylistically but there was always a very strong sense of originality that didn’t really fit anywhere! It was a similar situation with his first ‘Good Luck Mountain’ album, a recording that whilst excellent seemed to be steering gently away from country music although elements were still discernible
Sometimes we talk about ‘unusual’ recordings but this tremendous second album by Mike’s ‘Good Luck Mountain’ virtually defines that word. The thread running through the disc is one of mellow sounds and warm vocals but there is a lovely feeling of moody, slightly unsettling introspection that gives the album great depth. At no time does it ‘rock,’ always having a mellow melodic sound but conversely also includinng an incredibly powerful intensity that sometimes has a strong spooky element.
Mike writes highly descriptive songs that are tied up in the ‘human condition’ but in a way that is so different to what anyone else is doing. His instrumentation, or more particularly, his arrangements, are unmistakably by someone who is a completely unique lyricist and arranger of his songs. The tales all have a mellow, reflective feel in a powerfully haunting rural setting, in a similar vein to albums such as the late John Denvers ‘Rocky Mountain High,’ but with a much stronger air of mystery. It is impossible to overstate that intense, yet mellow sense of introspection that is mixed up with a wide open spacy feel, one that is at the same time often overwhelming in its depth. Whilst these songs are lacking in dynamism the album is none the less totally addictive, repaying with interest constant rotation!
All songs were written by Mike Ferrio except for one co-write with Ana Egge, Mike, as well as lead vocals, also plays guitars, harmonica, Wurlitzer and electric piano. Ana adds some sublime harmonies to the recording, with further vocal help coming from Matt Mays and Malcolm Holcombe. The core of musician support is Konrad Meissner on drums and percussion, Jason Mercer, bass and banjo, Eleanor Whitmore, violin, mandolin and vocals and Chris Masterson on electric guitars, mandolin and vocals. At times there are some quite unusual effects which add a strange otherworldly air to proceeding,s but they are never over the top and do genuinely add to the atmosphere.
White Calico Flowers is a sprawling epic tale that has a lovely gentle, meandering, atmosphere but with an underlying tension, on a song that is generically indefinable with hints of so many roots offshoots. At its core it is an enticingly reflective love song that has a high lonesome feel both musically and thematically. At times the talk vocal has the atmosphere of Van Morrison in one of his heavilly mystical moods, with leanings towards a powerful folksiness and cinematic scope with gentle instrumental changes and an intensity that rises and falls. A melodic guitar gets Apollo under way on a song that has a strong country feel although Mike Ferrio’s songs are never quite that simple. There is a cinematic story telling feel to this excellent song that includes banjo and some lovely warm feminine harmonies. The tempo is upped a little on Maps Of The Moon, a song that creates a similar atmosphere to the best of Calexico. There is a mellow lead vocal from Mike Ferrio and lovely female harmonies, with excellent piano and violin on a song that has a catchy melody and a flowing dramatic intensity mixed in with the mellow sound. That is followed by Seawall a song that begins with a tremendous bass intro which picks up again during the song with aggressive electric guitar, powerful percussion and melodic harmonies. It is a really strange brooding, almost otherworldly, song that has a quite spooky atmosphere thanks to it’s unusual arrangement. Final mention goes to Angels, a song that has an eerie guitar intro before being joined by the powerful bass, then Mike’s breathy vocals join in with a haunting female harmony. It is a love song that is partly driven by a spooky fiddle and could easily be an old Appalachian ballad with a modern but sympathetic arrangement. It is a haunting incessant tale that slowly builds in intensity, holding back before any sign of a crashing crescendo, but only just!
This whole album has an otherworldly melodic yet intense feel that is redolent of the old Appalachian music, with arrangements that whilst modern are in many ways out of time, such is the unique talent of Mike Ferrio and his Good Luck Mountain project. Although I have yet to give much thought to year end lists, this tremendous, unique and highly original album will without any doubt finish in a high position on that list!
http://goodluckmountain.com/