'The Mountains Are My Friends' is the the debut album from California Irish.
Summoning the beguiling spirit of Laurel Canyon, employing analogue recording techniques, and recording songs in one or two takes to achieve something with a real human touch, California Irish are a new seven piece group hailing from Belfast that working their own niche within the world of folk and Americana, and everything in between.
The brainchild of the group is lead singer and chief songwriter Cormac Neeson, known otherwise as the vocalist of The Answer. The band were hand-picked by Neeson based on long standing friendships, as well as experiences with numerous musical projects within the thriving Belfast music scene.
Cormac states his reason for starting the band, and wanting to harness this fabulous sound: "This album is the opposite of boring AI generated no soul perfection. We recorded this album in a room together over four days allowing the music to breathe when it needed to, looking at each other for our cues and feeding off each other’s energy. It felt like a dream…but it’s the most real thing I’ve ever done in music. That Laurel Canyon sound of the late 60s, epitomised by the early Crosby Stills Nash and Young stuff, and the first few Joni Mitchell records, has always felt otherworldly and magical. On our album we’ve tried to access some of that beauty and create our own magic by combining brand new music with an old school recording process."
Limited black vinyl pressing, with EXCLUSIVE HAND SIGNED PHOTO CARD, while stocks last.
Tracklisting
Side A:
1. Live Fast Die Free
2. Old Friends
3. Julie Ann
4. Side By Side
5. Something Different
Side B:
6. Big Questions
7. Can't Let Go
8. Sunday Morning
9. Hard We Fall
10. I Am Free
