#BESTTHINGS2011 // METAL MOUNTAINS - Golden Trees (Amish Records)

Metal Mountains’ debut album Golden Trees is an exercise in meditation, in developing a sound and allowing it to grow. Out-scene vets at this point, the group is comprised of Helen Rush, Samara Lubelski and Patrick Gubler all of whom cut their teeth in the 90s proto-New Weird American band Tower Recordings. As Metal Mountains, the trio plays to their strengths pairing Rush’s cool, ethereal vocals with Lubelski’s droning violin and Gubler’s steady, gently picked electric guitar. A simple but effective (and affecting) formula, one song folds into the next maintaining a calm, collected and kind of creepy feel throughout. It’s wintry music, just as cold in the day as it is dark in the night. Heady for sure, but that’s no reason to turn away.

Metal Mountains - “Structures In The Sun” from Golden Trees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qorhOSwROgU

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#BESTTHINGS2011 is a series focusing on the “best things” released in 2011. Bucking arbitrary numerical distinction, these postings will appear in no particular order with no particular concern for whether they are original releases or reissues from this year. I’m hoping to post one a day for the remainder of the calendar year or until I run out of best things to write about. Not sure which will come first.