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2. Come Around (T.Johnstone)
3. Mountain Side (T.Johnstone)
4. Great Big World (T.Johnstone)
5. Girls From The Mall (T.Johnstone)
6. Desert Weathered Hiway (T.Johnstone)
7. The Point (T.Johnstone)
8. Over Here (T.Johnstone)
9. The Wonder (T.Johnstone)
10. Nothing Can Come Between Us (T.Johnstone)
11. Cuckoo Interlude (T.Johnstone)
Produced, recorded and mixed by Paul Reeve. Recorded and mixed at Airfield studios, North Cornwall. Mastered by Bob Birch at Masterdix, Los Angeles.
Most instruments and vocals Tam Johnstone. Additional musicians Julian Taylor, Pete Cuthbert, Casey Martin, Paul Reeve, Jo Partridge, Mike Silver, Nick Zala, Diana Johnstone, Jimmy Green, Ryan Griffiths, Kate Simpson, Rob Simpson.
Hear it...here!
The making of 'Mountain Rescue'It's praise indeed -and a huge relief- that people want to hear more from The General Store. It's even more of a relief that I can now deliver 'Mountain Rescue' especially since I came close to abandoning this project altogether. Initial recording began in Brighton (see 'How Massacres Start') in November 2000 and would continue at various locations whenever I had the time. By November 2002 the album had become a 32-track monster, clocking in at just under 2 hours in length and recorded entirely on 4-track. These were indeed dark times for me but back then I saw absolutely nothing wrong with this, possibly because I had lost my mind! I began working on the sleeve artwork, which depicted diagrams of black holes swallowing faceless astronauts, the insides of the human body, mutilated prehistoric computers, the twin towers splattered with blood... pretty dark stuff.
Further and further into apocalyptical obsession I would descend, re-recording tracks, changing lyrics, growing more and more confused about what I was trying to achieve and struggling with the obvious sonic limitations of recording on 4-track. I reached a point where, although I could see the makings of a great album, I just didn't have the drive or enthusiasm to finish it. By this time I was living at my mum's house, constantly in the grip of panic attacks, unable to leave the house for days on end, convinced that this was how my life was going to be from now on. For the next 6 months 'Mountain Rescue' lay dormant and while I occasionally attempted to jump-start the project again, deep down I felt it just wasn't good enough. Taking a break from the whole project, I headed off to Cornwall and spent a few months working on Louis Eliot's debut album, 'The Long Way Round.' It was a welcome distraction and thankfully, after a few months of working on someone else's material, I felt the urge to start afresh, this time at Airfield studios with Paul Reeve at the controls.
August in Cornwall can be like being abroad: great weather, long lazy days, barbeques on the beach, surfer girls... Not that Paul or I saw much of that. We were busy making this record! Old friends came along to play and sing, beer and pizza were consumed, doobies rolled, a calm atmosphere prevailed and much laughter was had. It was a contrast to the paranoid state in which the original album sessions began. Not that the Airfield sessions were without danger. In fact, they were fraught with it: electric shocks off Leslie speakers, windpipe mishaps with Dairy Milk chocolate, not to mention the usual anxieties that are all part and parcel of making an album. But, it was all worth it and in March 2004 Paul & I reconvened to mix the album. I'm so glad Paul and I made such a happy, optimistic album as opposed to the sonically dense, sprawling, paranoid opus I'd originally had in mind (I'm not sure that the world is ready for 'Country Goth' just yet.) 'Mountain Rescue' has a hope and optimism that, I feel, 'Local Honey' lacks. I guess it has a lot to do with the headspace I was in plus the fact that other people were involved this time around, giving this album more depth and texture. Special thanks to everyone who gave their time and talent to this project.
With one thing or another, I've had to put the release of this album on hold for longer than originally planned but hopefully, folks will see it as one of those "timeless" records! That was always the plan from the start anyway: to make a record like they used to, one that would - hopefully - improve with age. And now I've handed it over to Walter at Brewery in California who, I believe, cares enough about this record to launch it out into the big wide world. What happens next is in the lap of the Gods...
Reviews for 'Mountain Rescue'
"The gorgeous strains and influences of World Party, "Harvest"-era Neil Young, early 70s Elton John, CSN&Y, Quiver and The Travelling Wilburys are present but filtered purely through Johnstone`s immense talents. This is a very special record – not just because it’s a true-gem, but it articulates a ‘soul-spirit’ few records are able to tap into; it’s one of Johnstone’s many gifts. The wait for this one is well, well worth it" - Not Lame recordings
"A Modern Day Masterpiece! This new album brilliantly combines lush Beach Boys and CSNY-style harmonies, the West Coast country of The Flying Burrito Brothers and Beatles-inspired melodies to create an album that can only be described as a true masterpiece. Any fan of West Coast rock 'n' roll will LOVE this record from start to finish...guaranteed!" - CD Baby