On Eagle Mountain by Todd Mosby
I chose to review
this album for two reasons. Firstly
because I love it. Secondly because
while I was in transit from Sydney to LA I watched an awesome movie called
Eddie the Eagle – which I also loved and I felt the eagle reference was a sign
of semantics to write about Todd’s really stunning guitar album titled On Eagle
Mountain.
Produced by the team
at Imaginary Road Studios (Will Ackerman & Tom Eaton) this album couldn’t
miss. Not just because of the great
people and production but because Todd has his own unique defining style that
sets him apart.
As I listen I feel
transported to another place, but more than that, I’m drawn into Todd’s world,
a clever and well constructed world where I can choose to stay on the surface
and listen to his music in an ambient way, or I can concentrate and find depth
way beyond the definition of ‘ambient’.
A wonderful combination and most artists cannot achieve both attributes
at the same time. I believe it takes a
sense of trust in the artist that they will lead you somewhere – in both
instances.
In art-speak I would
liken Todd Mosby’s album On Eagle Mountain to French painter, printmaker and
‘intimist’ Pierre Bonnard who was able
to capture the spirit of the moment by playing with light and decorative surfaces
using impressionist techniques. He was
not interested in obscure symbolist subject matter and was not a mystic.
Instead, he was satisfied - even fascinated and delighted by the scenes of
simple daily life around him into which, as observers, we are drawn.
Excellent work. A cut above.
*Fiona Joy is a composer/pianist/producer/vocalist...and painter. View her work here.
