o What: Black Mountain, in concert.
o When: 9 p.m. Nov. 28.
o Where: Wonder Ballroom, 128 N.E. Russell St., Portland.
o Cost: $15 through Ticketmaster, 800-745-3000 or http://ticketmaster.com.
o Information: 503-284-8686 or http://wonderballroom.com.
On its first two albums, Canadian psych-rock band Black Mountain offered several long jams, clocking in at the seven- or eight-minute mark, that either featured spacey psychedelic atmospherics or guitar riffs equal parts prog and metal.
Only two songs in the band’s third effort, “Wilderness Heart,” go beyond five minutes. As a result, many of the 10 downsized tracks come across as straightforward rockers, which, in an indie world still transfixed by electronic noise and dreamy haze, proves to be a refresher when the band executes.
Album opener “The Hair Song” might be one of the best pure rock songs of the year, mixing in a hint of blues that loudly echoes Led Zeppelin. The haunted folk of “Radiant Hearts” shows that the band can still craft a good song without entirely abandoning the psychedelic touchstones it has used so well in the past.
Unfortunately, the trimmed-down Black Mountain doesn’t always deliver.
“Let Spirits Ride” is pretty much a by-the-numbers Black Sabbath song.
Save for the vocals from Amber Webber, who takes full advantage of her turns at the mike accompanying or trading lines with frontman Stephen McBean, “Rollercoaster” is a ride that slogs along without any interesting dips or turns.
“Wilderness Heart” shows that Black Mountain doesn’t always need expanded space for its sound to work. But it feels like the band is a little more comfortable when not holding back.
