Mt.St.Mtn. presents
All ages
DEAD LEAF ECHO
Brooklyn's Dead Leaf Echo is a music/art collective that released their debut LP Thought and Language in 2013. That premier album was strongly influenced by many 4AD acts, brought into sharp focus by the mixing of John Fryer (Lush, NIN, Depeche Mode) and featuring artwork by 4ADs legendary designer, V23's Vaughan Oliver (Pixies, Bauhaus), which further enhanced their strong aesthetic connections to that label. The band maintains a distinctive ethos--embracing their idols, while still forging their own sound.
Their second LP, Beyond Desire, coming October 13th via Papercup Music finds them working with legendary My Bloody Valentine engineer Guy Fixsen (MBV, WIRE) and Jorge Elbreht (Ariel Pink, No Joy, Frankie Rose, Violens, Lansing-Drieden) with artwork from Timothy O’Donnell (another 4AD design alumni) at Mexican Summer's Gary's Electric studio in Greenpoint. The new record finds them exploring something much more than bands within their sphere typically strive for - it's introspection leavened with human connectedness and higher arching themes of maturation and growth that transcend the basic needs of lust and want. This record comes far closer to approximating their live show, with a scorching sound that is often volatile, rife with damaged guitar deconstructions and gleaming figures, yet maintains their eminently melodic sensibilities. Beyond Desire, shifts from shimmering to scorching at the drop of a hat held together by rock solid songwriting. By moving between both ends of the spectrum, the eleven tracks on Beyond Desire function both as blissed-out, resplendent expository narratives, and also as pure, white-noise nihilism.
>> Listen to “Strawberry Skin” by Dead Leaf Echo
ELECTRO GROUP
”Back in the late ’90s, Electro Group had one of the most defined musical styles in town and blew out many eardrums as the noise pop vanguard of the local scene. Though it has been a full 10 years since their last LP Good Technology in 2007, the band has managed to eke out recordings on vinyl and even put out a cassingle (!) in 2015. Last month they released a new LP, Ranger, on their longtime label Research Sound Recordings.
The album is strong out of the box with “Like Pelicans,” introducing you immediately to the elements that make up such a consistent sound for a band that has been together for 20 years: falsetto vocals over deeply crunchy guitars, heavy bass, and inventive drum lines. Characteristic atonal riffs and hard-driving fuzz make “Undone” another standout, and “Mandobo” is a sweeping, My Bloody Valentine-inspired anthem. The epic Built to Spill inspired outro of “Monotron” is a standout of the latter half of the album. Electro Group may wear its influences on its sleeve, but this is no mere copycat band. They’ve got the chops to back it up.
The sound is mature, pulling in strings on “Unwind” and a synth-and-keys vibe on “Gong.” Electro Group are still interested in moving their sound forward rather than just covering old ground. Ranger is a solid album from a band confident in its sound, one that should gather lots of “where has this been all my life?” reactions on their upcoming tour.” - SacRag
>> Listen to “Like Pelicans” by Electro Group
ASHES FALLEN
James Perry is a singer/guitarist/songwriter specializing in dark epic rock. James refuses to fit neatly in any single categorybut draws on influences across metal, goth, industrial, pop, punk, and classical music. He is forever chasing his perfect sound: meticulous but heartfelt, heavy but catchy, epic arrangements but simple melodies, perfectly imperfect.
>> Listen to “Unrequited” by James Perry
THE SURROUNDED
The Surrounded is a sound making contingent from Sacramento, CA.
>> Listen to “Reset“ by The Surrounded