"Mount Elephant" by Alessio Ferrari exemplifies organic psychedelia, seamlessly blending Eastern musical rhythms and a slower-paced meditative approach. This third Upupuyāma record, released through Fuzz Club, draws inspiration from traditional Bhutanese music, Thai disco, and Anatolian psych, while maintaining elements of '70s kosmische and stoner-rock. The album offers dream-like instrumentals that can transform into intense, fuzzed-out riffing. Ferrari's creative process involved immersing in silence and nature, reflecting a journey from exploration to a serene, long-dreamed destination.
Ferrari’s meticulous craftsmanship shines through as he writes, plays, and records every element himself in his home barn studio. The diverse instrumentation includes guitars, keys, flute, sitar, erhu, and various percussion, mixed by Chris Smith at Kluster Sounds. The album, paradoxically more relaxed yet rhythmically rich with ample percussion, diverges from notions of maturity, instead embracing a playful, childlike essence. Ferrari is particularly proud of this quality, viewing "Mount Elephant" as a liberating, less serious creation.
The album’s tracks narrate vivid, sensory experiences. "Moon Needs the Wolf" begins with gentle psych-folk tones before evolving into a dynamic motorik groove. "Thimpu," inspired by Bhutanese music, imagines a journey to Bhutan, while "Fil Dağı" (Elephant Mountain) taps into Anatolian influences, evoking communal dance. The expansive "Moon Needs The Owl" channels a Thai disco's spirited chaos, transitioning to serene dawn. The atmospheric "Dabadaba" and the title track encapsulate the album’s odyssey, blending tranquil meditation with an explosive, fuzz-driven finale.
