After seeing Bruce Peninsula play an awesome set on Friday night.
I finally got my hands on A Mountain Is A Mouth, the debut album by Toronto’s Bruce Peninsula, and I honestly can’t stop listening to it. While it was made available digitally back in December 2008, the physical release dropped on February 3, 2009—and it was well worth the wait.
If you’re unfamiliar, Bruce Peninsula is a large collective from Toronto, often consisting of 7 to 10 members. What sets them apart is their unconventional approach to folk-rock. They blend earthy instrumentation—kalimba, bells, washboards, and more—with powerful choral harmonies, especially from the female vocalists in the group. It’s hard to list every unique sound they incorporate, but each one adds texture and richness to the album.
A Mountain Is A Mouth is a gapless album that plays like one cohesive, continuous story. Tracks like “Inside/Outside,” “Steamroller,” and “Crabapples” radiate high energy—perfect for stomping your feet or letting loose in some kind of joyous, primal dance. There’s a gospel-like fervour here, but without any religious preaching—just raw, communal power and catharsis.
The whole album has an organic, almost timeless quality. It doesn’t quite belong to any specific decade; instead, it feels like it could’ve emerged from some hidden forest outpost where old-world folk, indie rock, and gospel met and merged. Bruce Peninsula has created something truly special here—grounded, resonant, and utterly moving.
This album should be nominated for the 2009 Polaris Prize. (Please break the trend of giving it out to a single white male artist)
Stunning tracks on the album:
- Inside/Outside
- Steamroller
[audio:http://www.bruce-peninsula.com/empeethree/Steamroller.mp3]
- Satisfied
- Weave Myself a Dress
- Crabapples
[audio:http://www.bruce-peninsula.com/empeethree/Crabapples.mp3]
- Northbound/Southbound
Also they are great live so get a chance to see them live.
You won’t be disappointed.
Go to your local music shop and grab “A Mountain Is A Mouth”.
