MOUNTAINEERS seriously piqued W&H's interest with the wigged-out grooves, bizarre logic and off-kilter DIY pop of their previous (second) EP, a self-titled effort that usually goes by the name of the "Self-Catering"EP, after the record's catchiest track.
"Ripen", meanwhile, is a slightly more linear effort, though its' still plenty of curves to throw and haul you in, boomerang-stylee. Produced again at the trio's Liverpool, Hot Trees studio, it suggests that the band's natural Welsh psych-pop bent has received a shot in the arm from hangin' around The Coral's playground and also from their on the road shenanigans supporting Goldfrapp.
This latter influence is most obvious on "Ripen" itself. Powered along by industrial-strengh electro-pop grooves, overheating acoustic guitars, dense synths and sprinkled with sussed pop confetti, it's not a million miles away from the catchier moments of the recent Goldfrapp album. Though without the whips, PVC and lasciviousness, obviously. It's also by some way the most confident these shy Welsh lads have sounded thus far.
The rest of the EP holds up nicely, too. "She's So Fond Of Me" is a typically oddball love song, replete with electric piano, spangly guitars, weirdo white noise and a sudden mutation into scuttly electro-pop manifesting before your very eyes. "I'm standing beside you in Africa" they gibber, all the while being regaled by handclaps and snappy carnival melody and invoking the spirit of the Super Furries. Rather lovely, all told.
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Final track, "Pass It Along", while hardly evoking the The Coral's recent single, nonetheless finds Mountaineers succumbing to the 'Pool's innate sense of cool melody and finds Alex, Ceri and Tomas turning in perhaps their most rounded pop choon yet. Well, before they rough it up with all manner of wibbly eletronica and fart around admirably with theremins, that is. Doesn't spoil the vibe in the least, though, much to their credit.
Mountaineers are truly unlikely sonic superstars, full of possibility and a penchant for trying whatever they like and makng it work without fear of failure or embarrassment. Their debut album, "Messy Century" is due come September's end. Odds on they'll make the summit without helmets and pitons.
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