Montibus Communitas are a psych-folk collective from Lima, Peru who are often regarded as a group of improvisers. Their recordings, however, suggest highly ritualistic and trance-like proceedings with each player contributing free form elements to a pre-arranged structure. Their sound is deeply influenced by bands such as
Popol Vuh,
Amon Düül II, the Source Family, Trees Community, the Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus, and Japan's Ghost.
The group was founded in Lima by musicians from other psych, indie, and vanguard bands who were all seeking to create music based on spiritual principles. The lineup consists of a revolving group that changes with each record. Members include Pedro Fukuda (vocals, guitar, percussion, pan flute, quena, organ),
Carlos Vidal (bass), Anna Cuadra (violin, percussion, vocals), Paul Saavedra (synthesizer, flute, vocals), Brayan Buck (guitar, percussion, vocals, organ, pan flute, quena), and Sergio Zanabria (percussion), with bassist Teté Leguía and vocalist Efrain Rozas contributing on occasion.
The band's self-titled debut offering consisted of four long tracks and was issued in a limited edition of 500 vinyl copies through Greece's Musicbazz/Cosmic Eye Records, and digitally through the group's Bandcamp page. Recorded the same year but not issued until 2012 was the live
Hacia Aquellos Bosques de Inmensidad issued on Trouble in Mind. Another live offering, Ānanda Saṃgha, was recorded in various concerts during 2011 and 2012. It was issued digitally and on cassette by Sky Lantern in 2013 as was a split with O*YN entitled Offerings for the Destroyer.
The band issued Harvest Times digitally through their Bandcamp page on the winter solstice of 2013. Containing eight tracks, it was their first record to be comprised of shorter to mid-length material. Their follow-up,
The Pilgrim to the Absolute, was a concept recording based on the mystical Christian book of the same name by Léon Bloy. The album's structure was comprised of early improvisations, sonic experimentation, and free jams, and returned to their long-from work. It was released by Beyond Beyond Is Beyond in late September of 2014. ~ Thom Jurek