A Mountain of One - Institute of Joy

[Inertia: 2010]
The dramatic organ intro that opens A Mountain of One's "Institute of Joy" had me feeling like I was being led down the altar towards communion. And in fact, I kind of was. Institute of Joy is the debut album for London duo Zebden Jameson and Mo Morris and it is epic and ambitious. Both men are accomplished musicians and producers and have worked with other ambitious artists; Oasis, The Pretenders and Tricky. What they have to offer as a duo is vastly different though: these guys are being touted as the new high priests of psychedelic rock.
The album kicks into 'Sky is Folding' and is the first real taste of what's to come as vocalist Zeb tells us "This is where it begins", and so it does as he has commanded. The track begins softly with melodic acoustic guitar, then haunting vocals lull you along through multi instrumental layering - dense and atmospheric, until it builds to a synth crescendo that has you swimming about in a psychedelic haze, before suddenly: 'BAM' you’re dropped off at the end. And while you’re still trying to figure out what just happened, the kick drum opening and funk guitar of 'Bones' - the stand out track for me – takes off into a dreamscape of Mountain of One's making.
These guys are on a mission and it's likely that they read from the Book of Pink Floyd. The album's mood is expansive and transcendental - on 'Highs of The Sun' Zeb croons: "I wanna take you away with my feelings and lift you up to the highs of the sun" and I truly believe that we wants to take us all on a journey (or should I say trip?), I'm just not sure I want to go anymore. By the end of the album I've well and truly strayed from the fray. If you are looking for redemption, the cult-like passion of 'Institute of Joy' may well be your answer. These guys have made an ambitious and dense sonic soundscape that those who worship psychedelic guitar solos will lose their soul in. Institute of Joy is beautifully produced. It's dramatic, accomplished and epic. But if, like me, you're a staunch atheist the drama of it may leave you feeling a little bit like you just don't quite get it.

buy on itunes
listen to the a mountain of one
back