Album Review/ Americana : Jack Biilmann’s ‘Move The Mountains’

Jack Biilmann is here to make you fall in love with country blues and Americana all over again. If you miss the gritty, roots influenced country from the 60s then you’re in the perfect place. Jack Biilmann is the artist for you. His latest release is ‘Move The Mountains’ album. A collection that spans across the soul spectrum.

Colored by moments of raw acoustics, developed into melodic journeys and energised by electric guitar power, the tracks come alive with so many styles and textures.

The track, ‘Outlaw’ opens the album. It has a walking rhythm that expands with country rock grit and blues. The basslines have a lot of spatial presence. Fluid and malleable, it lends itself to the emotion of the vocals and the storytelling atmosphere of the track. It’s a well-formed track that takes its time to become whole. We see this rhythmic ease and unrushed storytelling pace in other tracks across the album as well. 

In ‘Never Have It All’, this organic rhythmic style allows the listener to feel the passage of time. It is especially powerful as the artist sings about a life lived, and the wisdom he gained from it. ‘(Not) Easy to Love’ sets up a swaggy, edgy atmosphere. Where a story unravels with a lot of sensual blues, melancholy laments and artistic vocal flow. 

On the other hand, tracks like ‘Feelin’The Burn’ and ‘Dark Days’ form slowly but have a deep rock ethos built into them. The country accents that you see in the previously mentioned track is phased beautifully into a grungey, gritty blues rock. Tackling dark themes and brooding sensibilities, they really come into the album beautifully. You’ll pick up on a bit of rock n roll in Feelin’ The Burn. The groovy blues style guitar fantastically builds into the rhythm structure. It also hosts performative psychedelics and is full of theatrics. 

‘Slithered’ and ‘Haze on the Highway’ are melodic rock tracks that boast landscapes that are so expansive that they feel like a spiritual experience. The artist really leans into the blues inspired folk rock. Descriptive vocals set the scene, but also build emotion into it. Moments of nostalgia beautifully come into curves of verses and seeping into the moody blues hazes. 

‘Move The Mountain’ is a strong and doting classic rock track. It takes you back to the 70s. Pausing beats, fluid basslines and free vocals make up the intro. Wired country rock circles ripple through the soundscape. You’ll see lofty guitar chords and rising solos. All of this comes in together exhilaratingly to the chorus. A brimming anthem that you can’t help but wait for again. After the second verse. Slow, almost crawling, the rhythm is one of the best features of the track. It compels the listener to really savor its spirit. A grand cinema that sets up authentically. Listen Now!

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The album is available for streaming on popular sites like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music! 

You can listen to ‘Move The Mountains’ by Jack Biilmann here -