Moving Mountains: Pneuma

The Indie Review

By Sean Duregger
May 1, 2008

Artist: Moving Mountains
Album: Pneuma
Label: Deep Elm Records

Rating:

 Email This Post  Print This Post

Once every few years an album comes along and defies all expectations and inspires the inner musician/artist in me. The last album that had the biggest impact on me creatively was The Appleseed Cast’s 2 album set Low Level Owl I & Low Level Owl II. These are albums I still listen to on a regular basis and nothing has ever come close to the genius of those albums. Until now. Moving Mountains debut: Pneuma is an album that stretches itself more artistically than anything that has come along in the past 8 years.

What makes Pneuma so great is how the album flows together as a whole album. You have no standout radio singles here. Moving Mountains have created a musical movement with Pneuma. Each song relies on and builds from the previous, creating an experience that seems to be left out of most albums today. Like Sigur Ros, Moving Mountains aren’t afraid to take the minimalist approach and let songs simply exist. There is no formula here, just honest, pure and passionate songwriting.

Moving Mountains have burst onto the music scene with a brilliant debut. Pneuma exists on a higher plain than anything I’ve heard in quite a long time. This is an album that will transcend time and genres and proves that you don’t have to stick to formula or trends to have a successful release.

Stand Out Tracks

“8105”

“Cover The Roots / Lower The Stems”

“Alastika”