Boy From Black Mountain

Ensemble, sprawling, orchestral gothic country. Takes punk rhythms, chamber pop instrumentation, and American gothic atmosphere, and snorts out a surrealist, swaggering, cartooney Spaghetti Western romp. Not the usual Cuneiform roster entry for sure. There’s a tinge of a Spanish sound with the horns, some great vocal moments, and strong, diverse instrumentals. There’s a lot of variation on here, and a lot worth your time. Luke would like this. YIF would like this. For fans of Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, Nick Cave, Gogol Bordello, circuses, Ennio Morricone, Jay Munly, Appalachia, rusted pick-up trucks, rockabilly, and overwhelmingly energetic live acts. No FCCs.

*1. Lush string introduction, tuba, accordion, trombone, cello, swooning violins, easy to like, melodic, orchestral pop. Vocals sound a bit like the Decemberists, though. (4:16)
2. Upbeat, snarling Western stomp with repetitive harmonica, Larkin Grimm guests on backing vocals, also features a choir. (2:59)
3. More of a relaxed guitar strum, plucked violin ascending and descending notes, slower ballad about the frontman’s son’s autism. (5:48)
4. String-led, guitar-centric, uneasy instrumental with horns. (1:25)
*5. Harmonica prevalent again, big banjo on this one, backing females, builds to an anxious big choral moment. (3:43)
6. Very fast tempo, country bluegrassy, epic hillbilly anthem with handclaps and repetitive yodels; like spittin’ in a jar while sitting in the Appalachian sun. (4:13)
7. A little simpler, fast banjo plucking alongside backing female vocals, slower fiddle sound. (3:27)
8. Instrumental with lush strings, western guitars, harmonica, a little bit ominous. (1:45)
*9. Furious violins strike, tubas, fast-paced, snarling, rhythmic Western rock that recounts a murder story. (5:00)
*10. Instrumental with Eastern squalls (like off the instrumental half of Bowie’s “Heroes”), bizarre other language chanting by children, strange horn/string interplay. (4:11)
*11. Slower one based on a plucked violin pattern with ringing, gloomy strings and simplistic guitar parts. (3:55)
12. Instrumental. Heavier guitars and drumming comes in after autistic string intro work lays the foundation, probably the only song on here that is electric guitar/distortion oriented. (3:48)
13. Accordion, off kilter layering of strings, feathery female backing vocals, nice dreamy end of the album. (1:59)