"Move Any Mountain" is a song by Scottish

electronic music Electronic music broadly is a group of music genres that employ electronic musical instruments, circuitry-based music technology and software, or general-purpose electronics (such as personal computers) in its creation. It includes both music ...

group

the Shamen The Shamen ( ) were a Scottish psychedelic band, formed in 1985 in Aberdeen, who became a chart-topping electronic dance music act on the UK Singles Chart by the early 1990s. The founding members were Colin Angus, Derek McKenzie and Keith Mc ...

, first released under the title "Pro›gen". With an official remix by the Beatmasters, the song was re-released in the UK in summer 1991 and was their first top-10 single, reaching number four in the UK Singles Chart. It was included on the band's second album, '' En-Tact'' (1990), and is also their only top-40 hit in the US, where the song peaked at number 38 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in February 1992.

Release

In response to demand for remixes from fans, the band released the entire sample list and a number of remixes on the album ''Progeny'', which at the time meant the single and album release of the track made it the only record to chart on both UK Singles and Album Charts at the same time. The track was used for the entrance of Team Scotland during the opening ceremony of the

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in Glasgow. The lyrics of the first verse also appeared as Super Hans' wedding vows in the second episode of the ninth series of ''

Peep Show A peep show, peepshow, or, a peep booth is a presentation of a live sex show or pornographic film which is viewed through a viewing slot. Several historical media provided voyeuristic entertainment through hidden erotic imagery. Before the devel ...

''. The cover includes the kanji 山 (''yama'', meaning mountain).

Critical reception

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

editor John Bush viewed the song as an "infectious techno-pop anthem". Upon the release of "Progen", Bill Coleman from ''

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'' described it as "an aggressive track that makes no bones about blurring the lines between industrial and

house music House is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a repetitive Four on the floor (music), four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 115–130 beats per minute. It was created by DJs and music producers from Chicago's underground ...

." Another editor,

Larry Flick Larry Flick is an American journalist, former dance music columnist, single reviewer, and Senior Talent Editor for ''Billboard'' magazine, where he worked for 14 years. Now he produces and hosts Sirius XM radio shows. Flick started in the musi ...

, felt that the track "may be best remembered as the most remixed record in history", adding that "at last count, there are 35 versions of this song circulating throughout Europe, seven of which are on this U.S. pressing. Beneath abundant studio tricks, which alter song's stance from techno to house and then

hi-NRG Hi-NRG (pronounced "high energy") is a genre of uptempo disco or electronic dance music (EDM) that originated during the late 1970s and early 1980s. As a music genre, typified by its fast tempo, staccato hi-hat rhythms (and the four-on-the-flo ...

, lies a simplistic and memorable modern-pop tune." Andy Kastanas from ''

The Charlotte Observer ''The Charlotte Observer'' is an American newspaper serving Charlotte, North Carolina, and its metro area. The Observer was founded in 1886. it has the second-largest circulation of any newspaper in the Carolinas. It is owned by Chatham Asset ...

'' deemed it "a bright uptempo dance trip that will have your hiney shakin' before you can say "rave"." Dave Jennings from ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. In January 2001, it was merged into "long-standing rival" (and IPC Media sister publicatio ...

'' wrote, "'Pro›gen' starts brightly — the Shamen set up a spun-sugar dance sequence, croon 'move any mountain', and you begin to believe that they could. Then in crashes guest rapper Mr C, rambling feebly and implausibly about his supernatural abilities, and the record descends to the depths of mediocre rap-ego-stroking. Shame!" David Giles from ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as ''Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music We ...

'' stated that the Shamen "are at their pulsating, electrobeat best; a couple of rapping inserts from DJ Mr C rather detracts from the hypnotic overall feel, but it should enhance the record's credibility yet further in clubland."

James Hamilton James Hamilton may refer to: Dukes *James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton (1606–1649), heir to the throne of Scotland *James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton (1658–1712), Scottish nobleman *James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton (1703–1743), Sco ...

from ''

Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper published between 1954 and 1991, aimed at pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after ''New Musical Express'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK Album ...

'' viewed the track as an "catchy chanting ''I can move, move, move any mountain'' UK oldie". William Shaw from ''

Smash Hits ''Smash Hits'' was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand ...

'' complimented its "humping great tower block of a hugely infectious dance chorus."

Music video

The promotional video for "Move Any Mountain" was filmed on the slopes of Mount Teide,

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. Shortly afterwards, Will Sinnott drowned off the coast of the neighbouring island

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UK releases

* Pro›gen (CD single 1990) # "Pro›gen ('Land of Oz' Mix)" – 5:42 # "Light›span" – 5:41 # "Pre›gen" – 5:48 * Pro›gen Remixes (12-inch single 1990) # "Pro›gen (C-mix F+)" – 7:01 # "Pro›gen (7b)" – 3:50 # "Light›span (Soundwave)" – 7:43 * Pro›gen (Cassette single 1990) # "Pro›gen (C-mix F-)" # "Pro›gen ('Land of Oz')" # "Light›span" # "Pro›gen (7a)" * Move Any Mountain – Progen 91 (CD single 1991) # "Move Any Mountain (Beat Edit)" (remixed by the Beatmasters) – 3:30 # "Move Any Mountain (Landslide Edit)" (remixed by the Kid & John) – 3:48 # "Move Any Mountain (F2 Mello) – 6:12 # "Move Any Mountain (Mountains in the Sky)" (remixed by Caspar Pound) – 6:03 * Move Any Mountain – Progen 91 (12-inch single 1991) # "Move Any Mountain (Landslide)" (remixed by the Kid & John) – 4:51 # "Move Any Mountain (Devil)" (remixed by 'Evil' Eddie Richards) – 4:40 # "Move Any Mountain (Rude)" (remixed by the Goat) – 5:03 # "Move Any Mountain (I.R.P. in the Land of Oz)" (remixed by

Paul Oakenfold Paul Mark Oakenfold (; born 30 August 1963), formerly known mononymously as Oakenfold, is an English record producer, remixer and trance DJ. He has provided over 100 remixes for over 100 artists including U2, Moby, Madonna, Britney Spears, Ma ...

) – 5:02 * Progeny (3x12-inch and cassette 1991) # "Move Any Mountain (Bang to the Beat of the Drum)" (remixed by Bryan 'Chuck' New & 'Evil' Eddie Richards) – 5:45 # "Move Any Mountain (Beltram Dub)" (remixed by

Joey Beltram Joey Beltram (born November 6, 1971) is an American DJ and record producer, best known for his pioneering singles "Energy Flash" and "Mentasm" and for remixing Human Resource (band), Human Resource's "Dominator (Human Resource song), Dominator". ...

) – 5:30 # "Move Any Mountain (Rising High Dub)" (remixed by Caspar Pound) – 7:25 # "Move Any Mountain (Alta Vista)" (remixed by F Troop) – 6:16 # "Move Any Mountain (The Prelude to Paradise)" (remixed by Frankie Bones) – 5:12 # "Move Any Mountain (666 Edit)" (remixed by 'Evil' Eddie Richards) – 4:49 # "Move Any Mountain (Land of Oz)" (remixed by Paul Oakenfold) – 5:44 # "Move Any Mountain (Beatmasters Dub)" (remixed by The Beatmasters) – 3:56 # "Move Any Mountain (The Bones Break Mastermix)" (remixed by Frankie Bones) – 6:11 # "Move Any Mountain (Beltram Vox)" (remixed by Joey Beltram) – 5:20 # "Move Any Mountain (Landslide Vox)" (remixed by the Kid and John) – 5:27 # "Move Any Mountain (Rude)" (remixed by the Goat) – 5:40 # "Move Any Mountain (C. mix)" (remixed by Colin Angus and Mr. C) – 6:47 # "Move Any Mountain (Beat Edit)" (remixed by the Beatmasters) – 3:30 # "Move Any Mountain (Rude Edit)" (remixed by the Goat) – 3:44 # "Move Any Mountain (Landslide Edit)" (remixed by the Kid and John) – 3:48 # "Move Any Mountain (F Troop Edit)" (remixed by F Troop) – 3:27 # "Move Any Mountain (Oz Edit)" (remixed by Paul Oakenfold) – 3:39 # "Move Any Mountain (Bang Edit)" (remixed by Bryan 'Chuck' New & 'Evil' Eddie Richards) – 3:32 # 16 samples & beats – 5:39 Note: The CD version of ''Progeny'' only contains 15 tracks, it omits tracks 8–12. The "Alta Vista" mix is the same as the "F2 Mello" mix. The "Beltram Dub" mix, as published on ''Progeny'', is the same as the "Beltram Vox" mix. "Move Any Mountain (Land of Oz)" on ''Progeny'' is the same as the original "Pro›gen ('Land of Oz' Mix)" (1990), slightly different from "Move Any Mountain (I.R.P. in the Land of Oz)" on the 1991 12", and from "Progen 91 (I.R.P. in the Land of Oz)" on '' En-Tact''.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

References

External links

* * {{Authority control 1990 songs 1991 singles 1992 singles 1996 singles Acid house songs House music songs One Little Independent Records singles The Shamen songs UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles