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Label: Deep Elm
Release: April 2008
Hometown: NY



9 (out of 10)


The word "Pneuma" is Greek for "breath" and I am pretty sure that when Moving Mountains choose to title their new album that, they were going to make an album that would take our breath away. These four guys from New York have been buzzed about by a lot of people and I had to see what the fuzz was all about because I'm a sucker for spacey melody and "epic atmospheres" and it looks like MM have plenty of that to spare with their new album.

   And to say that this album is a wonderful sonic masterpiece would be an understatement. Right from the start we are bombarded with swallowing waves of ambiences and effects driven guitars until a more mellow indie rock shade of music hits in between our blankets of beautiful atmosphere. I soon realized that Moving Mountains had somewhat of a uncontrollable nature however as songs would twitch between screaming emotion outbursts, to soft tranquil emissions, and somewhere in the middle of the two without warning. For an example check out songs like "Cover The Roots / Lower The Stems" and "Grow On, Grow Up, Grow Out."

   "Pneuma" does have a wide arrangement of different songs that will tickle your fancy. Some are light as a feather and echo innocently, some are energetic and filled with thought out indie selections, and some are pianos infused with robust waves of atmospheric effects waiting to fill our brains with the sounds we all love. And while the voices were a bit notably off key at times, and some of the guitar work felt a little sloppy (only in a few rare sections), the album as a whole definitely makes up for anything you can say against it.

   If you are into the smooth sonic journey that Moving Mountains has assembled with "Pneuma" then feel free to check your local record store (as it is out now) because you will have one hell of a time listening to it. Not to mention the additions of different instruments (trumpet, piano, other vocalists, at times) just gave me another reason to love it. MM really have their heads on their shoulders and I can't wait to check out their new EP when it comes out in June.

~ Derek
April 15 2008


Moving Mountains
Pneuma
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