Capturing the spirit of being alive amidst a heartfelt rock and effervescent synth-touched charm, “Mountains” is a riveting new single from Mike Bloom. The Los Angeles-based artist crafts an affecting sound here that resembles a cross between Springsteen’s anthemic open-road prowess and Wild Nothing’s synth/guitar aesthetical savvy. It marks a thorough success from Bloom, whose work spans from co-founding The Elected to playing/performing with artists like Jenny Lewis, Julian Casablancas, and Rilo Kiley.
A beautiful production bursts with color throughout, kick-started by glistening synth undercurrents and jangling guitar pulses. “Take me alive, she said,” Bloom’s vocals open with soaring immersion, complemented by steady percussion and starry-eyed synth shimmering. “You wanna dive into the ocean but you dance around it,” Bloom sings, artfully capturing a distinction between desire and doing.
The ensuing “mountains” sequence melds dreamier vocal charm and symbolic introspection, punctuated by a dazzling synth vibrancy that’s finished off by a twangy rock satiation. “Mountains” is a resonating standout from Mike Bloom, who elaborates on the track’s overarching themes and symbolism:
“It’s a track about the experience of simply being alive, of the struggle to achieve or even of the concept of achieving, and the unconscious rumblings that push and pull at us all. Mountains are very real and powerful symbols pointing to some higher power, and sometimes you really do have to approach a microphone with exactly zero shirts on to sing on their behalf.”
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
