The Mountain People, Mountain008

[Mountain People]


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In the span of seven releases, André Schmid and contributors Serafin and Roman Bruderer have charted a wide-ranging course for the Zurich-based Mountain People label. But whether the records paid homage to seminal house tunes (“Mountain001”) or helped spark the return of tribalized minimal house (“Mountain005”), their impeccable construction was conspicuously identifiable as a Mountain People production. Schmid (better known as Rozzo or Peter Dildo) imparts a certain snappiness, a sexy gait such that even the label’s lowest points (the threadbare “Mountain006″) are far more palatable than the majority of house singles I receive. While the eighth Mountain People 12” is equally surefooted, the record’s droning arrangements are more aligned with those of Schmid’s other guises than its predecessors. The results are less compelling than one might imagine.

The last few years have found Schmid draping loose and flowing pads around intricate percussion patterns on tracks like “Muramasa” and “Azzurro” as Rozzo and “Womanizer” as Peter Dildo. It’s a good formula for showcasing his adroit drum programming and knack for choosing demure tone palettes. Yet when applied to “Mountain008,” his taut but unflashy percussion loses some of its immediacy, feeling stuck in stasis. Cloaked in billowing organ chords and accented with shakers and cracks of thunder, “008.1” feels surprisingly pensive rather than moving. “008.2” is likewise swathed in sustained pads, leaving the syncopations of a gulping bass line to pull the humid track across eight minutes. Even a vintage sample announcing the death of “Jack, one of the true pioneer of house music,” does little to break the dour inertia. What’s worse, vinyl buyers aren’t privy to the far more persuasive “008.3,” a digital exclusive. DJs will have to pack Serato equipment to air the oily, 303 bass-led track whose churning undercurrents evoke the sonic details of Shackleton. Even if “Mountain008” finds its way into warm up and cool down DJ sets, Schmid’s experiment with cross-bred methods has yielded one of the least distinctive Mountain People records to date.

littlewhiteearbuds  on September 25, 2009 at 8:27 PM

I’m actually kind of surprised no one has raised an eyebrow at this review enough to comment. Is everyone bored with Mountain People, this record, or the review? Points for honesty.

Bjørn  on September 28, 2009 at 12:56 AM

I agree with Steve that the digital track is by far the most convincing of the bunch. And it’s prototypical at that: a muffled echo of that Mountain People theme, itself a re-version of the Mole People classic on Strictly Rhythm.

rozzo  on October 18, 2009 at 8:09 AM

thanks for the review.
first of all we are very critical of our own work, it is a process and if one in 7 records becomes a widely played release, we consider it a success and we had more than that, which we appreciate really.
regarding mountain008, i am actually surprised how much support it got. ricardo played mountain008.1 several times at the cocoon closing afterparty. on a proper sound system at the right time it creates an atmosphere you will never catch when listening at home. and yes we still produce for club sound systems not for home listeners. the difference between the two is stunning and should never be forgotten.

littlewhiteearbuds  on October 18, 2009 at 1:19 PM

Thanks so much for your candor, Rozzo. As a long time Mountain People fan it’s great that this review created a dialog point between us.

Your point about being played out is a good one. I hope to hear the tracks on a booming soundsystem sometime to fully judge their capacity.

rozzo  on October 19, 2009 at 3:31 PM

and you also have to take into account that mp has a tiny producer pool as opposed to many other labels, where it often surprises me that they are not capable of coming with more relevant stuff.
that’s not an excuse for us to release bad records of course but it is a fact. you are looking at two producers’ work here and one of them is currently too busy or too lazy or too uninspired by the whole thing to spend time in the studio 😉
regarding the current release 9 i am so happy with the a side (both at home and on a club system), that i dont really care what reviewers write, if any. a review bothers me if i think yes there is a point (like in yours) cheers

stu  on October 20, 2009 at 11:13 AM

008.1 sounds absolutely incredible in philip sherburnes mix over at modyfier!

.D  on January 3, 2012 at 4:11 PM

does anyone here know how to get in contact with the booker for Mountain People?

.D

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