Falling Down A Mountain came together in two studios (Staples’ own Le Chien Chanceux in France and ICP in Belgium) over three summer months in 2009. Very much a group effort, the recordings were built from a foundation of Staples (guitar, voice) and Boulter (keyboards) along with fellow original band member Neil Fraser (guitar), long time collaborator Terry Edwards (trumpet) and more recent recruits Dan McKinna (bass) and Andy Nice (cello) – all of who appeared on previous record The Hungry Saw. Aided by new ideas from newcomers Earl Harvin (drums, vocals) and David Kitt (guitar, vocals) and a rare guest vocal appearance by Mary Margaret O’Hara on “Peanuts”, Falling Down A Mountain reveals a newly colorful, textured, dynamic and at times even exuberant musical personality for the band, while retaining the band’s unique brand of ‘Northern Soul’, anchored by Staples’ inimitably intimate, deadpan voice. A magnificent updating of, and addition to, the Tindersticks canon.
