Mountains [Import]

Steamhammer, Steamhammer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 8, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Repertoire Europe/Zoom
• ASIN: B0002B74GK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Editorial Reviews

German reissue 1971 album originally issued on B&C Records. Repertoire. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good , but uneven effort, July 27, 2002

By 

bruceski (FLA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mountains (Audio CD)

I have read numerous reviews that hail this as Steamhammer's finest effort. While I like Steamhammer, and thouroghly enjoy portions of this album, taken as a whole I find it to be somewhat disjointed and feeling as thought it was pieced together by a band that no longer knew which direction it was headed. Not surprisingly, two founding members, vocalist Kieran White and bassist Steve Davy, left after this album.

Song by song description might help explain some of the pastiche feel of the album.

Wouldn't Have Thought opens the session as a shuffle sounding blues number with comtemplative lyrics. In the middle, guitarist Martin Pugh slows the preceedings down for a clean and thoughtful solo. Overall, not a bad opener that perhaps goes on for a couple of minutes to long. Next comes Riding on the L & N/Hold that Train. This in a sixteen minute live track, the only one on the album, and is a somewhat poorly recorded (although well performed) blues jam, with fairly simple lyrics. On its own, not bad, in context of the first song- where did this live track come from? Mostly this one makes me wish a proper live CD had been released by Steamhammer at some point during their heyday.

In the old days, it now would have been time to turn the album over. Side two would have revealed much more singer/songwriter based material. This starts with Levinia, an obvious ode to a girl with another shuffle influenced guitar riff, but this time the solo is done acoustically. Henry Lane starts as a slow lamenting song that is perfect for a cold wintery day. It then shifts to a country sounding rhythm complete with banjo. Leader of the Ring is another acoustic guitar number that sounds like it was written sitting around a campfire (with everything that is implied by that). The echoing guitar sound is wonderful and if your in a mellow mood, this song is perfect. Walking Down the Road interupts the calm with a bass driven riff and some Hawkwind sounding percussive guitar. The album closes with the title track, another slow contemplative number with an unusually effective repetitive chorus.

Overall, Mountains has a number of wonderful moments that don't always feel as though they flow together. Even the album cover conveys this ambibalance as it looks like Van Gogh meets Tolkien (actually it is a very nicely designed sleeve).

This probably should have been two separate albums, one a live album, and one completely of the slower/mature songwriting found on side two of the original album. Kieran White would release "Open Door," a very good solo album a couple of years later that was in the vein of the singer/songwriter category.

Despite whatever hestitations I present, I would say, if you have any interest in the British blues scene of the 70s (especially the more acoustic material of Mayall, Peter Green and Chicken Shack) I would reccomend this, but I would start with the first two Steamhammer albums first.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars FINE ATMOSPHERIC THIRD ALBUM FROM THIS RELATIVELY UNKNOWN GROUP, May 4, 2010

By 

Stuart Jefferson (San Diego,Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Mountains (W/Book) (Dig) (Audio CD)

41 minutes in length approximately. The sound is very good,having been remastered. The fold-out pamphlet tells the story of the group and this album. The CD is snapped in,inside the fold-out cardboard holder. The graphics are the original from the vinyl release.

This is the third album by STEAMHAMMER,an English group that started out as a blues based backing group for Freddie King. Their sound has progressed from the British blues sound common for the era (late 60's),into a combination harder rocking yet quietly atmospheric sound found on this album.

The group consisted of Kieran White-lead vocals and harmonica and second acoustic and electric guitar,Martin Pugh-lead guitars and bottleneck guitar,Steve Davy-bass and organ and vocals,and Mick Bradley-drums. This is the last album White would play on,due to differences of musical direction. The band was starting to head in a more harder rocking,progressive sound,which Kieran disliked. Steve Daly would also leave after this release. The group had recently undergone other personnel changes and was reduced to a four-piece.

The tracks are,by and large,built around the guitar of Martin Pugh ("I Wouldn't Have Thought"),a good,if not great player in the British blues/rock tradition. Combined with White's unique song writing and vocals,the group became popular in Europe,while never gaining a foothold in the U.S. The two tracks,which are recorded live,"Riding On The L&N"and "Hold That Train",are typical of what the group was capable of when stretching out in their blues/rock style. The intensity builds only to fall back,with White's insistent vocals weaving in and out of both tracks. The excitement of these tracks is very contagious,and it would be nice to hear more of this group live.

The next song,"Levinia",is a very lovely song,with good vocals over a combination of acoustic and bottleneck guitars. The percussion on this track is very subdued and fits in perfectly with the light feel of the tune. "Henry Lane" is a typical White composition. A curiously odd,though pleasant atmospheric arrangement,with the band playing very quietly,with the addition of banjo (played by Keith Nelson),and then changing up the time signature into a faster mode. Again,White's vocal plays an important role in making this tune something special.

"Leader of the Ring" is another White composition,again very atmospheric with some lovely acoustic picking and strumming,with White's vocal sounding very down and out. This song is one of the highlights of the album. "Walking Down the Road" is close to the group's original sound-a bit of blues mixed with a combination of subtle jazz/rock rhythms that propel this tune along. "Mountains" is a combination of electric guitar mixed with some understated acoustic picking,that along with the bass,shows the band progressing from their original sound. Pugh's guitar sound is held in check,and because of that his playing is some of the best on the album. White's vocals again are just right-sounding tired and worn. His weary vocal mannerisms are a perfect fit for the musical arrangement.

STEAMHAMMER,for whatever reason,never became as popular as other bands of the era. That's to bad because this group had a lot to offer-a unique vocalist/writer,a good guitarist,and a great rhythm section. Their four albums all have some great music,and it's a shame more listeners of late 60's/early 70's British groups have never paid much attention. Maybe with this fine re-release by Repertoire,more people will give this group a listen-they deserve it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a forgotten classic, June 12, 2007

By 

B. E Jackson (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mountains (Audio CD)

I guess to most people, Steamhammer's "Mountains" album is probably fairly ordinary. Well, ordinary by 70s rock standards, which means, it's still pretty darn amazing and totally enjoyable blues rock/progressive rock. The guitars on the album are well-played and immediately enjoyable, and the overall sound is REALLY good. A highly detailed-sounding album. Really good music that's worth owning.