Mountaineers - Messy Century

Mountaineers, namely Alex Germains, Ceri James and Tomas Kelar, are set to release their debut album Messy Century on 29th September 2003.

Originally from Wales, and now based in Liverpool, Mountaineers have so far released two limited, untitled EP's (on Deltasonic and Mute). The Mute EP, known as the 'Self Catering EP', was released in February this year and described by the NME as "…lush postmodern electronica complemented by delicious songwriting", it saw Mountaineers tipped as ones to watch by publications as diverse as Jockey Slut and The Sunday Times.

Highlights from the new album, recorded at their relocated Hot Trees studio in Wales, include the single 'Ripen', out on 15th September, off-kilter pop at its most sublime and inventive, a dense and layered construction of computer psychedelia with a sweetly sing-along chorus. The band's strong songwriting is particularly visible on this album, notably on the anthemic song centrepiece, 'All My Life', a towering, soulful plea for good fortune and on 'Want To Write To You', a vulnerable heart-on-sleeve love song. 'Belgique Limb' is galloping gypsy-folk channelled through a mixing desk possessed by the errant spirit of Joe Meek - all space-age static crunches and interstellar whooshes while 'Bom Bom', a disquieting burst of cyborg electronica, is the sound of a human presence trapped deep inside a malfunctioning machine, bursts of melody sputtering out like ticker-tape and the closing 'Silent Dues' is a serene bow-out - a sozzled, mosquito-bitten back-yard lament that's as sad as it is quietly celebratory. Notably on the album, Alex's lyrics - while still abstract, take on a more confrontational edge in places - particularly on 'I Gotta Sing', one of the album's stand out tracks.

Unafraid to take inspiration from some of the great songwriters and musical movements of the last century, Mountaineers revel in the limitless possibilities of today's software technology. And from this confused age we live in comes Messy Century, Mountaineers' debut album. "The century we live in is a bit of a mess," explains frontman Alex Germains, "But not necessarily in a negative way. You know, society is cosmopolitan. The music that we make is influenced by the era that we live in - so it comes out loose and messy. There's a lot going on."

Having recently toured with Goldfrapp and Sparklehorse, the band have dates across the country with more to be added in the near future.

Looks like the age of the 'Messy Century' is dawning: watch out for the Mountaineers, new purveyors of the future perfect.

Track Listing

1. Ripen
2. Sewing
3. It's Solid
4. I Gotta Sing
5. Belgique Limb
6. Want to Write You
7. UK Theatre
8. Backgrounds
9. All My Life
10. Bom Bom
11. Gruppen
12. Apart from This
13. Silent Dues

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