A Mountain Of One – Institute Of Joy : Album Reviews

If you thought psychedelia was dead, think again. It has not died, nor did it ever leave us.

A Mountain Of One, are aiding in the sustainability of this tricky genre, and in some ways, are sparking a revival of its greatness. Comparisons to Pink Floyd are not completely unwarranted, with their distinctive sound clearly borrowing from that of the legendary band, while at the same time, fusing a sound of their own. While many have remarked that this album sounds like the last 40 years of psychedelia combined, there is no denying that these London based musicians and producers Zeben Jameson and Mo Morris, are in all areas of their sound, transcendental.

Previous releases EP 1 (also known as Silver) and EP 2 (also known as Gold), received widespread praise. Anyone willing to track down and get themselves a copy should be willing to set themselves back a fair few dollars first. Institute Of Joy, their debut LP release, is no different. And you know when the opening track on the album is titled Intro, that you are in for a wonderful ride of music. The anthemic instrumental that is the opening track, takes the listener on a journey through a gorgeous synth progression which unfortunately, only lasts around a minute and a half.

A Mountain Of One - Their album, Institute Of Joy out now

The first single, Bones is musically ominous and sends a resounding salute to the music of the seventies, equipped with longing guitar riffs and mesmerising synth and drums. In what already sounds like it has stepped right out of this era of limitless possibility, the vocals further enforce this fact, along with the backing vocals which are perfectly placed. Sky Is Folding presents a more subdued sound with the flowing of ‘ooh’s’ throughout the track, as well as overlapping vocals, making the sound undeniably dreamy.

In Our Lifetime, Highs Of The Sun and Who By Fire, are, stylistically similar, particularly in their most basic essence of modelling progressive jams. The ‘fiery’ cover of Leonard Cohen’s Who By Fire, has been described as having a ‘grandeur which is distinctly ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’’, which would not be far from the truth. It serves as somewhat of an insight into the workings of their creative minds, and even more so, presents as a clear influence into their own musical interpretations.

The seven and a half minute, Ahead Of The Curve delves the album into more of an escapists dream sequence, and it is here you realise that the album doesn’t particularly work with singular tracks. Sure, there are favourite tracks and one’s that are stronger in nature than others, but for one to get the complete and compelling experience of A Mountain Of One’s Institute Of Joy and the expansiveness of the sound scape, it must be listened to in all its entirity.