by threejumps

Once again I found this (a bit late) on Boomkat’s Top 100 list for 2006, German singer and songwriter Henning Wandhoff’s band Mountaineer is a joy to listen to. There’s a reason why he’s called a songwriter, kids. Because he can write songs. That are actually hummable or singable and with feelings. Being too much into experimental stuff sometimes puts me into reactionary situations like this that makes me want to listen to straightforward and well-structured songs.

This has the 70s easy listening vibe all over, with acoustic & slide guitars, female backing vocals (by Anna Bertermann), occasional percussion & kalimba support, but the main focus is on the vocal melodies & guitar. It seems Mountaineer had the same ethos while making this album as well, a 40 minute all killer album with no special effects, just good songs. Kind of an easy listening experience supported by folky elements, but think a bit more of the earthy & bittersweet Knopfler folk than most psych folk that we are so used to get now. And did I say that the songs are really really good? It’s a shame this album, with virtually no mediocre songs has somehow remained under the radar for mp3blogs. Surprisingly, out on the experimental UK label Type Records which has given us Khonnor, Mokira and Xela before.

And don’t forget to check out Type’s wonderful artist podcast mixes. #3 is a classical mix by Keith Kaniff of Helios & Goldmund and #4 is a freestyle mix by Xela, tracklists included, happy hunting!

Mountaineer - A town called Ivanhoe
Mountaineer - Morning Mist
Mountaineer - Eliza (A day for every hour)
Keith Kaniff - Type Podcast #3
Xela - Type Podcast #4