Mountain Man—the trio of Amelia Meath, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, and Molly Sarlé—has released Mountain Man Sings Kacey Musgraves, the latest in its series of cover singles, featuring its version of “Slow Burn” from Musgraves’ 2018 album, Golden Hour. The digital single, available now via Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and other digital service providers, follows last year’s digital releases of Mountain Man’s performing Wilco’s “You and I” as well as the Irving Berlin holiday classic “White Christmas.”
“We are all huge fans of Kacey Musgraves,” says the band. “‘Slow Burn’” embodies the magic of the unfolding of life, the power of being present and patient and knowing that sometimes things just take time. Like following a thread—it requires attention and curiosity.”
Mountain Man’s 2018 album Magic Ship received critical praise and was followed by the Mountain Man Sings John Denver EP in early 2019. Following their beloved 2010 debut, Made the Harbor, the three musicians went in different directions for several years before they all ended up in North Carolina, spending time together as old friends, and finally reuniting as a band, and recording Magic Ship at Meath’s home studio in Durham. The group toured the US afterward, including a stop in Washington, DC, and a visit to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series; watch that performance here.
In addition to Meath’s Grammy-nominated work with Sylvan Esso, Sauser-Monnig and Sarlé have embarked on critically acclaimed solo projects of their own. Sauser-Monnig released Dawnbreaker, her debut album under the moniker Daughter of Swords, via Bella Union last year. Pitchfork says the album “reveals her effortless skill as a songwriter as she delivers an homage to the betwixt and between of a relationship in its twilight.” Sarlé released Karaoke Angel last fall via Partisan Records, a record which Exclaim! likens to “contemplating the unimaginable depths of the sea or beholding the vastness of an unclouded sky, [easing]you into a sense of oneness that you’re oblivious to until it’s over.”
Praise for Mountain Man…
“Molly Sarlé, Amelia Meath and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig have perfected a bare, unadulterated sound composed of little more than three-part vocal harmonies.” NPR
“Magic Ship cuts a path between beauty and meaning … Mountain Man’s radiant harmonies are as pretty as they come …. Quiet may seem like an outlier in this noisy present, but Mountain Man understand its power.” Pitchfork
“The a cappella tracks remain their USP, but when they stretch out into the acoustic balladry of the Joanna Newsom–ish Fish, they shine even brighter.”Q
“Songs of bucolic beauty make up this sublime record… An enchanting portrait of life’s simple pleasures.” Long Live Vinyl