Album Review: Holiday Mountain Bring Atomic Levels of Fun Through SHIA

I will start my review by humbly saying, “Yaaas Kween!!!!!”. Holiday Mountain has created an album, SHIA, that is a brunt bump to a listeners’ swag. This electronic music duo founded by Mexican-American songwriter/keyboardist Laura Patiño and drummer/producer Zander Kagle has created an atomic fusion of pop, hip-hop, and electronica. Just owning their new, amazing album will make you think you can slow-motion walk into any building, and no one would call you out on it. SHIA is that rare record that makes you feel cool.

We all have those records that will forever be attached to our musical collection, and will never bring us shame. They ignite in us a feeling of bliss and undeniable confidence as if sonic waves had the power to combat inner insecurities. Holiday Mountain’s SHIA is that album. Kagle’s bassline makes an electrifying entrance from your ears into your soul with each beat striking your inner anxieties like musical lasers.  When asked about the creation of the album the duo exclaimed, “For us, SHIA signifies the end of compromise and the end of fearing what others will think or do when you become exactly who you want to be. SHIA is realization with a fuck-everything-else attitude.” I could not sum up the album better than its creators in this statement. Yet, it is not simply Holiday Mountain’s brazen beats/ lyrics the ooze a sense of lush, fantastical belief in yourself, it is also Laura Patiño’s demeanor and rap style.

When Patiño spits a verse it could make the earthquake from its heavy charm. She busts through rhymes with a force that is both lethal and lavish. Lethal because her verses feel like they could destroy any target they wish to strike. Lavish because her delivery is so rich with an essence of fierce and ferocity, you cannot help but bow down. Strength in a human being is an amazing asset, but in her it feels awe-inspiring. She represents the inner firmness everyone desires in being free with their personality and ornate in their persona. Moreover, this album is 100% for those ready to ride through the night and GET DOWN! There is no denying it is destined to be the ultimate soundtrack to an epic house party.

I recently reviewed Drake in concert and compared it to a high-tech house party, and I will do the same here. SHIA feels like a highly stylized house party filled with imaginative visuals and blaze smoke running throughout the home. I chose house-party because, for however Holiday Mountain’s beats and rhymes ignite a night of passion and debauchery, there is an intimacy to their sound. They have created an album that you play when your amongst friends readying to get hyped for a great night. They are the band you speak about amongst your closest companions and “fan out” on what are your favorites tracks and fiery verses. For however magnificent they are in their sonic services, Holiday Mountain comes off like a hidden treasure that you keep close to make you smile.

I cannot gush enough about this album. It is a unique dive into fun! That is the simplest, most basic encouragement I can give you to support Holiday Mountain’s SHIA! Usually, I have a section of my favorite tracks, but I, genuinely, like all of them. So, instead, I will list the tracks with a few words or sentence to describe why you should listen and love it.

Track by Track Review:

Bump That Bass-a song to drive through a city’s nightlife with your lover and Feel Invincible!
Cómo Te Llamas? (feat. Mexican Institute of Sound)-  a wealth of Caribbean Samba rhythms
Old Days- a sonic rabbit hole of chill vibrations
More- a frenetic rave of verses and sound made of literal FIRE!
Sacrifice- this song makes me feel like I joined a virtual tribe with Patiño’s soft, synthetic voice as my leader
Close 2 U- think 90’s R&B and electronica meeting for a sultry hook-up
Fantasy- 80’s sonic fusion that invokes its exact title: fantasy
Buffin- this track feels like a hidden, greatest hit from Diplo and M.I.A. It echoes the duo’s excellent, early work.
Coffee & Weed- a devious track that promotes a release of inhibitions
NE1- just a bad ass track!
Burnt- a sexy smooth bassline to match Patiño’s sexy, smooth rap vocals
On & On-  a lighter track in rhythms and an enlightened one in thoughtful verses on letting a lover go
Como- a bombastic, rambunctious song that makes you feel like you have happily dropped into an arcade game

For more information on Holiday Mountain, and to buy SHIA Click Here.