Mountainhead
| Mountainhead | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1 March 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2022–2023[1] | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | Synth-pop,[2] Indie pop[3] | |||
| Length | 54:53 | |||
| Label | BMG | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Everything Everything chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Mountainhead | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 82/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 7/10[2] |
| DIY |   [5] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[6] |
| MusicOMH | [3] |
| Record Collector | [7] |
| Under the Radar | 8.5/10[8] |
Mountainhead is the seventh studio album by British band Everything Everything. It was released on 1 March 2024 through BMG.
Background and theme
Their third release in the span of two years, following Raw Data Feel in 2022 and a reissue of their debut album Man Alive in 2023, Everything Everything announced Mountainhead on 26 October 2023.[9] The band wrote, recorded and produced the project in Stockport with the help of guitarist Alex Robertshaw. As opposed to their previous album which made use of artificial intelligence to create content, Mountainhead entirely avoids "plug-ins and effects".[10] The "synthetic pop album" explores "notions of capitalism and social fracturing" from a futuristic point of view.[11]
Lead vocalist Jonathan Higgs explained that the album revolves around a simple concept, taking place in a fictional world "wherein all of society is consumed with the building of a giant mountain". However, the twist in the story is that the people would have to dig a deep hole and live in it in order to build the mountain. Furthermore, at the bottom of the pit lives a giant golden snake that they have to escape.[10] It represents an "alternate society" where those at the bottom have to work relentlessly to keep the elite "elevated".[12] According to Higgs, the goal was to create "an easy but strong metaphor" that can apply to multiple things.[13] To him, a "mountainhead" signifies an individual that believes in continuous growth of a mountain "no matter the cost, and no matter how terrible it is to dwell in the great pit".[10]
Promotion
In promotion of the album, the band embarked UK tour in March and April 2024, with festival appearances throughout the summer.[14]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Jonathan Higgs, Jeremy Pritchard, Alexander Robertshaw, and Michael Spearman.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wild Guess" | 4:02 |
| 2. | "The End of the Contender" | 3:26 |
| 3. | "Cold Reactor" | 3:51 |
| 4. | "Buddy, Come Over" | 4:05 |
| 5. | "R U Happy?" | 3:29 |
| 6. | "The Mad Stone" | 3:45 |
| 7. | "TV Dog" | 2:10 |
| 8. | "Canary" | 4:23 |
| 9. | "Don't Ask Me to Beg" | 4:14 |
| 10. | "Enter the Mirror" | 3:42 |
| 11. | "Your Money, My Summer" | 3:15 |
| 12. | "Dagger's Edge" | 3:43 |
| 13. | "City Song" | 5:53 |
| 14. | "The Witness" | 4:55 |
| Total length: | 54:53 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Stay With Me" | 3:28 |
| Total length: | 58:21 | |
Personnel
Everything Everything
- Jonathan Higgs – lead vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (tracks 1–3, 5, 8–14), programming (3, 5, 8, 9)
- Jeremy Pritchard – bass (tracks 1–6, 8–14); baritone vocals, piano (2); backing vocals (4, 6, 11, 13, 14)
- Michael Spearman – drums (tracks 1–6, 8–14), percussion (2–6, 8–14), backing vocals (13)
- Alex Robertshaw – production (all tracks); keyboards, synthesizer (tracks 1–6, 8–14); programming (2–6, 9), e-bow guitar (2), backing vocals (3, 6, 11), strings programming (7)
Additional contributors
- Tom A.D. Fuller – production, engineering (all tracks); tambourine (tracks 1, 13, 14)
- Frank Arkwright – mastering
- Cenzo Townshend – mixing
- Martin King – engineering
Charts
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Physical Albums (ARIA)[15] | 30 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[16] | 4 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[17] | 9 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[18] | 3 |
References
- ^ Everything, Everything (19 February 2024). "1 year of writing and recording 'Mountainhead'… Less than 2 weeks to go until it's yours". Instagram. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ a b Oxford, Jack (26 February 2024). "Everything Everything – Mountainhead". DIY. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ a b Murphy, John (1 March 2024). "Everything Everything – Mountainhead". MusicOMH. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "Mountainhead by Everything Everything Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ Jamieson, Sarah (1 March 2024). "EVERYTHING EVERYTHING - MOUNTAINHEAD". DIY. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ Heavisides, Simon (28 February 2024). "Everything Everything: Mountainhead Review - essential humanity". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ Doherty, Niall (29 February 2024). "Mountainhead - Everything Everything". Record Collector. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ Dransfield, Scotty (28 February 2024). "Everything Everything: Mountainhead (BMG) - review". Under the Radar. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ Chelosky, Danielle (26 October 2023). "Everything Everything – "Cold Reactor"". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Beaumont, Mark (30 October 2023). "Everything Everything on their apocalyptic new album: "I can't see much good in the future"". NME. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Carter, Daisy (30 October 2023). "Everything Everything announce new album Mountainhead". DIY. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (30 October 2023). "Everything Everything announce their seventh studio album, Mountainhead". Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Ackroyd, Stephen (27 October 2023). "Everything Everything: Making mountains". Dork. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "The most anticipated new albums of 2024". Radio X. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 11 March 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1775. Australian Recording Industry Association. 11 March 2024. p. 7.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2024.