Music

X3 Artist of the Month: Black Mountain

by Anne T. Donahue

A modern take on classic psychedelic is what’s kept Vancouver’s Black Mountain on the minds of critics and listeners since the release of their self-titled debut in 2005.  Since then, the west coast rockers have released several EPs in addition to their second full length record In the Future – the highly acclaimed 2008 album that was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize that same year and nominated for “Best Alternative Album” at the 2009 Juno Awards.

This year, the five-piece have returned with Wilderness Heart, an intense and enthusiastic ode to the founders of rock ‘n roll that combines the earnestness of a bygone era with the innovation of modern music, successfully using unique sounds and techniques to create and maintain a vibe that’s genuinely interesting and all their own.

Consisting of Matt Camirand, Stephen McBean, Jeremy Schmidt, Amber Webber and Joshua Wells, the band has earned attention not only for their collective dynamic (the term “Black Mountain Army” was originally meant to pertain only to those in the band’s close social circle, but quickly earned the group a reputation for being a hippie-based collective – which is untrue), but for their involvement with downtown Vancouver’s Insite, the first legal injection site in North America, of which several members have worked with.

Far from merely being a testament to early music pioneers, the band’s unique mix of powerful and fast-paced rock mixes perfectly with its softer efforts, as tracks like “Let Spirits Ride” evoke the intensity of true psychedelic sound, while “The Space of Your Mind” showcases the group’s ability to flex their emotional muscles and convey both feeling and vulnerability through song.

Having opened for the likes of Coldplay, Black Mountain has cultivated a fanbase that’s grown to include listeners throughout the globe, and with the release of Wilderness Heart, their ever-increasing presence in Canadian music only promises to solidify.