- Audio CD (10 Mar 2008)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Paper Bag
- ASIN: B000VAT08M
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 179,617 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Review
What three years ago would have been referred to as 'lo-fi' now gets called folk. Whatever, Ottawa's The Acorn have delivered a meditative little gem filled with piano, acoustic guitars and rolling drums. Rather than burying their music in lush harmonies a la Fleet Foxes it concentrates on the wavering voice of leader Rolf Klausener.
Glory Hope Mountain is ostensibly about Klausener's Honduras-born mother, Gloria Esperanza Montoya. While the album's peaks and troughs are finely judged it can, in its early stages, too often rely on two chord vamping and repetition to achieve its emotional tipping points.
However there is a willingness to experiment charmingly within the context of beardy campus tropes. Listen to the almost Native American drumming circle vibe of Flood, Pt1, or Low Gravity (where it lurches nicely into dissonance and electric mayhem) or the Sufjan Stevens' vulnerability of Glory. Oddly at times it can put one in mind of the less out-there moments of Animal Collective.
It's never less than pleasing, though, like much music produced by such bands recently, it's hard to be entirely passionate about it, until that is, you reach the warbling Plateau Ramble and the rolling Flood, Pt2. You suddenly realise that you're beginning to love this cute little number more than you ever expected to, and that in itself brings you back for more. In the end there's great promise here. --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Glory Hope Mountain is the debut UK release for Canada's The Acorn, though the band has previously released two albums in their home country . In 2006 the bands front man Rolf Klausener recorded a series of interviews with his mother, Gloria Esperanza Montoya, some of which can be heard imperceptibly in the background of "Sister Margaret" on this album. The interviews inspired a series of songs about Gloria's life, a poignant tribute from her son, which became Glory Hope Mountain. This bold musical biography chronicles Gloria's abusive childhood in Honduras and her escape to begin a new life in Canada.
So Glory Hope Mountain can be classed as a concept album but it is a palpably sincere project eschewing any pretension or gimmickry .The lyrics are understated but undeniably heartfelt and the vocals resonate with empathy and that word sincerity again.
Klausener embraces his mother's heritage and the cultural traditions of Honduras, using elaborate drumming rhythms and native chanting to put across her journey and also uses instruments like ukuleles, banjo's ,trumpets and marimbas along with piano , guitar and some subtle strings.
The end result however , is rather a mixed bag. For every delicate gradated gem like opener "Hold Your Breath" there is a meandering plodder like "Even While Your Sleeping " which may end up sending the listener off to the fluffy land of nod. "Crooked Legs" employs rambunctious percussion against a sprite like trumpet and while the spooky pedal steel and adroit banjo on the lovely "OH Napoleon " give the album some textural atmosphere it isn't sustained on tracks like "Low Gravity " or the sprightly but mundane Antenna" . "Plateau Ramble " is much more like it with dextrous guitar notes and more fervent vocal but my favourite is the closing "Lullaby (Mountain) " with Ohbijou's Casey Mecija's delicate inflection gliding serenely over dappled acoustics and diaphanous strings.
This album is at it's best when it strips back the layers and just lets the songs breathe and the gentle melodies caress .Sometimes it seems the ambitiousness of the undertaking caused the music to take on more baggage than was entirely necessary and consequently bogged it all down. Better I think as "Crooked Legs" says to be "Led by the light of a melody ".
So Glory Hope Mountain can be classed as a concept album but it is a palpably sincere project eschewing any pretension or gimmickry .The lyrics are understated but undeniably heartfelt and the vocals resonate with empathy and that word sincerity again.
Klausener embraces his mother's heritage and the cultural traditions of Honduras, using elaborate drumming rhythms and native chanting to put across her journey and also uses instruments like ukuleles, banjo's ,trumpets and marimbas along with piano , guitar and some subtle strings.
The end result however , is rather a mixed bag. For every delicate gradated gem like opener "Hold Your Breath" there is a meandering plodder like "Even While Your Sleeping " which may end up sending the listener off to the fluffy land of nod. "Crooked Legs" employs rambunctious percussion against a sprite like trumpet and while the spooky pedal steel and adroit banjo on the lovely "OH Napoleon " give the album some textural atmosphere it isn't sustained on tracks like "Low Gravity " or the sprightly but mundane Antenna" . "Plateau Ramble " is much more like it with dextrous guitar notes and more fervent vocal but my favourite is the closing "Lullaby (Mountain) " with Ohbijou's Casey Mecija's delicate inflection gliding serenely over dappled acoustics and diaphanous strings.
This album is at it's best when it strips back the layers and just lets the songs breathe and the gentle melodies caress .Sometimes it seems the ambitiousness of the undertaking caused the music to take on more baggage than was entirely necessary and consequently bogged it all down. Better I think as "Crooked Legs" says to be "Led by the light of a melody ".
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The second album proper from Ontario's The Acorn is a delicate & intelligent affair.
This band have been tarred with the brush of 'Indie Folk' up until now, but this record should break them out of that pigeon hole quite nicely. I don't know what it is about Canadian bands of recent years, maybe it's the expansive horizons of their homeland, but there is a definite tendency towards the epic in production (see Arcade Fire, Besenard Lakes et al) and `Glory Hope Mountain' is no exception. 'The Flood Pt1' especially has a scope about it that evokes wide open spaces and 'Antenna' even verges in to Ryan Adams territory.
Whilst the Fire have explored ground previously occupied by Bruce Springsteen of late, The Acorn's influences are certainly more introspective.
Lead singer / songwriter Rolf Klausener is in possession not only a beautifully emotive, quavering voice (certainly chanelling at least one Buckley), but an expert ear for a melody & choice lyric. If you're a fan of Iron & Wine and / or Bright Eyes, this is a record you should give serious consideration to.
This band have been tarred with the brush of 'Indie Folk' up until now, but this record should break them out of that pigeon hole quite nicely. I don't know what it is about Canadian bands of recent years, maybe it's the expansive horizons of their homeland, but there is a definite tendency towards the epic in production (see Arcade Fire, Besenard Lakes et al) and `Glory Hope Mountain' is no exception. 'The Flood Pt1' especially has a scope about it that evokes wide open spaces and 'Antenna' even verges in to Ryan Adams territory.
Whilst the Fire have explored ground previously occupied by Bruce Springsteen of late, The Acorn's influences are certainly more introspective.
Lead singer / songwriter Rolf Klausener is in possession not only a beautifully emotive, quavering voice (certainly chanelling at least one Buckley), but an expert ear for a melody & choice lyric. If you're a fan of Iron & Wine and / or Bright Eyes, this is a record you should give serious consideration to.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Surprised there aren't more positive review about this album so I thought I'd leave one. I listen to this album regularly, I came to it late and eventually bought it after I realised I'd heard several different songs on the radio and had liked all of them, since then it's very rarely off my stereo.
The album loosely is based on the singers mother's journey from Honduras. The album is instrumentally warm and varied (they are great live as well by the way), I've read a few reviews whinging about the lyrics but I personally love the imagery of the lyrics, some are less meaningful but who cares, with lines like
"I looked up and picked out a map in the sky. No need for the nude of the moon, as I'm guided by fireflies; and they whisper prayers to my feet as I tiptoe throught gardens minding the slumber of parakeets"
are so evocative and beautiful that I'm more inclined to go with the singer on the lyrics that are less cogent, and lets face it there are much worst lyricist out there! I find them vivid enough to understand the story but sufficiently vague so they are not be purely biographical.
I'd definitely recommend buying the album, it's such a warm and loving tribute to a mothers love and struggles to achieve a better life.
The album loosely is based on the singers mother's journey from Honduras. The album is instrumentally warm and varied (they are great live as well by the way), I've read a few reviews whinging about the lyrics but I personally love the imagery of the lyrics, some are less meaningful but who cares, with lines like
"I looked up and picked out a map in the sky. No need for the nude of the moon, as I'm guided by fireflies; and they whisper prayers to my feet as I tiptoe throught gardens minding the slumber of parakeets"
are so evocative and beautiful that I'm more inclined to go with the singer on the lyrics that are less cogent, and lets face it there are much worst lyricist out there! I find them vivid enough to understand the story but sufficiently vague so they are not be purely biographical.
I'd definitely recommend buying the album, it's such a warm and loving tribute to a mothers love and struggles to achieve a better life.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Indeed
Not usually inclined to leave reviews unless an injustice has occurred.
I feel this way about a 3 star review for this album, so here's a 5 to bump up the average..... Read more
I feel this way about a 3 star review for this album, so here's a 5 to bump up the average..... Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2009 by Journey of the giant
pretty allright actually
great record,
tell you the truth i had to listen to a couple of songs before i got into it, it was a new genre for me and the african beat really gets you going + and dont ask... Read more
tell you the truth i had to listen to a couple of songs before i got into it, it was a new genre for me and the african beat really gets you going + and dont ask... Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2009 by Terry Williams
Warning: may induce soporific bouts of happiness
I was sent this album to listen to last week and I must admit it has been a genuine surprise.
There is a warmth and resonance to the vocals - which I find to be very... Read more
There is a warmth and resonance to the vocals - which I find to be very... Read more
Published on 19 Nov 2008 by Mr. Scott Considine
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