Modesty Blaise – Carol Mountain

“Carol Mountain” by Modesty Blaise is back in a completely remastered form, acting as a preview for the 25th anniversary edition of their legendary album Melancholia. According to Jonny Collins, the song was inspired by Steven Gaines’ book Heroes & Villains, which tells the story of The Beach Boys. The song was according to written in roughly half an hour on a Sunday morning. Musically, the song begins with a warm wave of 1960s nostalgia. There’s a slight Motown groove with distinct Beach Boys-inspired harmonies that signal its throwback DNA. However, the main vocal lines have a more contemporary vibe, sometimes pushing up to the classic elegance of Britpop. This combination of periods gives the song an ongoing attraction. The backing vocal melodies and optimistic attitude, however, bring the listener back to the 1960s. Around 2:00, the song breaks to a short a cappella section lasting about 25 seconds, an inspired arrangement decision that emphasises the broadness of the vocal harmonies. The nostalgic melody then returns, lasting until around 3:04, when another short vocal-only break underscores the piece’s cheerful, theatrical nature. The cheerful groove becomes stronger as the tune comes to its conclusion. The addition of trumpet at 3:58 provides a further level of lushness and festive spirit, pushing the song toward a near-musical-style ending that is bright, theatrical, and little tongue-in-cheek. Lyrically, “Carol Mountain” expresses a combination of fascination, humour, and mindful theatricality. Lines like “If you can’t be weird, why become a star?” wonderfully highlight the song’s funny, slightly offbeat magnetism. The story atmosphere is cinematic and character-driven, representing the larger-than-life mythology that inspired its creation. Overall, Carol Mountain is a bright mix of classic pop and contemporary attitude, without compromising authenticity.