Four years ago, Kid Mountain introduced themselves to Boston with one of the best debut albums our city has ever seen. Happies, their ten-track effort from 2012, saw the art pop act churning their way through Local Natives-styled harmonies and Akron/Family spunk, creating the type of confident personality that sees bands go from local band to national act quickly. But this is Boston, a city where half of its scene changes every couple of years as students come and go, taking their music with them. Luckily for us, Kid Mountain are staying — for now.
All six members—Cole Wuilleumier, Derek Goulet, Tyler Rosenholm, Tyler Chauncey, Tim Patterson, and Jean J.—took a break after their record to focus on art school. It’s hard to funnel your creative juices into a band when your college pulls from the same creative space. Yet Kid Mountain pushed onwards, and Trinkles, their upcoming sophomore LP, is on the way.
“We wanted to make music that is accessible but subversive, music that challenges DIY music norms,” says Wuilleumier. “We were inspired by music that is minimalist and easy to replicate with a cheap guitar, like the Pixies, where it becomes mindless, existential, monotonous music.”
The album title itself is intentionally subjective with hopes of listeners placing meaning onto it. “Trinkles comes naturally, but saying it makes you question the legitimacy of words similar to it,” Wuilleumier says.
Since the songs begin as bedroom recordings by Wuilleumier or Goulet, there’s a sense of vulnerability and simplicity at their core. Yet their sonic similarities, some formed in high school and others more recently, are playful and loud: Speaking In Tongues-era Talking Heads, Feels-era Animal Collective, the clean production of The Beach Boys and Real Estate. Kid Mountain carry a personable spirit that not even their four-year gap could halt.
As you’re reading this, Trinkles is being mastered, but if you need something more to tide you over, the band are happy to share comparisons. “Sonically, I think we slowed down but tried to stay dynamic,” Wuilleumier adds. “Happies was optimistic and sentimental and comforting. Trinkles confronts that sentimentality and questions what is comforting.” We know, we know, we know. We’re super excited, too.
KID MOUNTAIN, HORSE JUMPER OF LOVE, BEEEF, PUPPY PROBLEMS. GREAT SCOTT, 1222 COMM. AVE., ALLSTON. THU 1.28 8PM/18+/$9. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT GREATSCOTTBOSTON.COM.
