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Recently I was listening to an Elmore James record, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. It took me a while to pin down why: I could hear fingers on the strings. Every slide movement and every string squeak sounded like they were inches away. I could hear a human playing.
The fact that this was a novelty shocked me. It dawned on me that I’ve been listening to so much modern metal that I’ve forgotten what human musicians sound like. I constantly listen to metal that’s been brickwall-compressed and crumbled into 192kbps or lower bitrate MP3s. (That’s not a choice; many promos now come like this, and given the hundreds in my queue, I’ve lost the energy to plead for high-quality MP3s.) My ears have grown used to digital shit.
So South of Salem (self-released, 2011) comes as a breath of analog fresh air. At no time do I feel like I’m hearing grids in Pro Tools. The band lays back behind the beat so much that Snoop Dogg sounds uptight by comparison. This is a big deal. A lot of sludge and stoner metal pays lip service to swing, with boogie riffs that feel obligatory. But actual swing that winds waists? Few bands can do it.
Witch Mountain can. They do it live; singer Uta Plotkin does a charming stroll-in-place dance when her band digs into big, meaty grooves. And, miracle of miracles, they do it on record. A metal band that sounds on record like it does live – imagine that! No “their live show is where it’s at” with this band. Every damn place is where it’s at with this band.
Sabbath, Hendrix, Goatsnake: Witch Mountain’s roots are clear. Plotkin draws from a lineage of white female soul singers from Janis Joplin to Joss Stone. But she doesn’t sound like those names. When I hear her, I know it’s her. Her singing is raw and free, hitting notes as needed, but exploring melisma, off-the-cuff embellishments, and Hendrix-style speak-singing. Guitarist Rob Wrong sounds like Hendrix so much, it’s dangerous – until one realizes that the context is new: Hendrix in a doom band. Nate Carson doesn’t drum so much as massage riffs, subtly applying fingers and wood and metal. Yet at one crest, he shifts on top of the beat, really hammering it down, and the contrast is brutal. So many bands are pedal-to-the-metal from the get-go. That’s brutal only in its dullness.
Here are four folks who are individually discernible, yet come together for swing so mighty, it’s indecent. They take their time. Riffs rumble and roll through passing tones, the steps between target notes. The result? You move – front and back, and side to side. (Then I let the Alpine play (play). The groove should lubricate even the stiffest of necks. Those with hips will use ‘em, too. When I step out after a day of computer screens into the sunshine, I feel like a human being again. When I put away my MP3s of digital shit and put on this oaken beauty, I feel likewise.
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WITCH MOUNTAIN BANDCAMP
Full album stream, LP, shirt, pay-what-you-want download
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That was an absolute pleasure just to read your description of this. I only wish I had the record player needed to fully experience what you experienced. I just don’t know where I’d put the damn thing in my house. On the other hand, pay-what-you-want download!
You had me at “Goatsnake”. Speaking of, more harp in metal…you know, like the first ever (truly) metal tune.
Is their drummer the guy I stood next to, in the Rush back patch jacket, by the soundboard at the Agalloch show in Raleigh, who is also Agalloch’s tour manager?
I read your review and was intrigued by the Goatsnake reference. I clicked play on the stream and my head was groovin’ almost immediately. Funny thing was, I wasn’t reacting to your prediction, I was reacting to the jam. A few bobbs later it hit me that I had failed to stop my neck from becoming lubricated. Despite your warning.
Oaken? This record bears acorns?
Witch Mountain were a huge surprise for me when I went to that Nanotear showcase in South by Southwest that Nathan Carson put together. It was a total mind blowing music boner from start to finish: Wizard Rifle, Arabrot, Amber Asylum, Witch Mountain, Worm Orouboros, Agalloch, and YOB, whil under the Texas moonlight. I wish Wizard Rifle were on either those Agalloch or Arabrot tours because seeing them once is definitely not enough. Witch Mountain is so soulful and sultry that I could see them play Roadburn one time and then the Chicago Blues Festival the next.
Full Metal Attorney – I actually own no turntable. The digital version of this sounds great – very raw and analog.
patnesheksballs – I agree with “more harp in metal”.
Chris Dalton – Yes, that’s the multi-talented Nate Carson!
mosh – Yes, acorns of riffing goodness! This squirrel won’t hide them away, though.
Carm – I could see Witch Mountain playing at a blues festival, though the heaviness might scare some people.
@ Cosmo
Those acorns might attract the attention of the Riffalo, a creature resembling the Gruffalo, except that it digs riffs and cosmic catnip.
I once talked to a guy that played with or in the backing band for Elmore James.
He said that song “Dust My Broom” is about wacking the mole ;-P
David
David – And all this time, I thought the song was about sweep picking!
Excellent! One thing I admire about your work Cosmo, is its honesty–a great deal of music crit is hard to read: snarky, fetishistic, or overblown. Witch Mountain come across as one of the more honest bands I’ve seen in a long time–honest to their roots and style. When they finished up their set at their record release party here in Portland a few weeks ago, Nate Carson thanked everybody for showing up, explaining that it was good to see an all ages show have some success–Portland, like many cities I imagine, have lost a great deal of music venues lately, with all ages clubs getting hit the worst. Nate also encouraged all in attendance to keep in touch, form bands and support local music. It was good to see, and the type of honesty you feel good supporting. Much success to them. A couple of last thoughts: The Hendrix similarities were right on–the only thing missing was Rob Wrong playing his left handed Strat with his teeth and setting it on fire, and when Uta hit those high notes live, you felt it (One question–Is she at all related to James Plotkin? Of Khanate, OLD, etc?? Or is the name mere coincidence?) It’s also weird hearing the songs digitally after hearing them in analog for the last month. Thanks, Cosmo.
Excellent review. This is rock crit done right.
Hahaha @ the NWA reference.
Can’t believe I missed this band at the blvd a couple months back, ive been kicking myself ever since! I’ve been jamming this album a lot lately. Its got sooo much feeling.
http://youtu.be/uS870zCCAwM
I LOVE THIS RECORD! It hasnt left my turn table for a full week now. Except for when i have to flip it over. Being a metal head in Portland is very rewarding. With bands like Witch Mountain, Red Fang and Lord Dying…Good times are had.
Well-written, Cosmo, and your writing actually represents the music well. This is much more up my alley than a lot of what’s out there these days. Thanks for sharing it!
That is one of the most incredibly awesome album covers I’ve seen in quite some time. It reminds me of one of those old Lord of the Rings maps… I kept looking for Mordor.
this album is so soulful and magnificent, love it.