Their self-titled album was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005. In the Future was a finalist for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize and was also nominated for "Best Alternative Album" in the 2009 Juno Awards. The song "Stay Free" from In the Future was featured on the Spider-Man 3 soundtrack.
In 2005 the band opened for Coldplay on their Twisted Logic Tour for three weeks, with their final opening in San Diego.
In September 2010 Black Mountain performed in an amphitheater located in the woods of Oisterwijk at the Incubate (festival) in Tilburg, Netherlands.
Leader Stephen McBean also heads another similarly named band, Pink Mountaintops, who are the more experimental side of McBean's musical abilities. Black Mountain is the front line band for Black Mountain Army, a collective of musicians, artists and friends in Vancouver. In an interview the band said "Black Mountain is just the five of us. The Black Mountain Army… which has kind of gotten blown out of proportion, it was kind of just a joke, because everybody thought we were this hippie collective, like we all lived in one house. But it’s basically just our friends at home in Vancouver, just our extended family of creative people that we know."
Several members of the band have, for as long as a decade, worked for organizations that meet the basic living requirements of the chronically poor, drug addicted and mentally ill in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighborhood, such as Insite. In an interview, the band said: "After work we all try not to think too hard about the effect it has on our lives. It keeps us grounded."
Wilderness Heart was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.
March 11, 2014 The Black Mountain song "Wucan" was featured on season 2 of the FOX drama "The Following" during the eighth episode entitled "Messenger".
The Black Mountain song "Druganaut" is featured in a June, 2014 Father's Day commercial for J.C. Penney.
Florian Saucer Attack
Black Mountain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zero one data, one two, one two
Calculated dreams graphs and numbers
Zero one data one two one two
Not him, not I
Cold bodies with the cement eyes
Tell your fathers and the ones you love
Not him, not I
Dead flowers for the battered sky
Tell your father and the ones you love
Somebody's body could use your touch
Zero one data. one two, one two
Florian saucer attack, it's over
Zero one data, one two, one two
Calculated stealth graphs and numbers
Zero one data, one two, one two
Not him, not I
Cold bodies with the cement eyes
Over Berlin ‘neath the winter sun
Tell your fathers and the ones you love
Not him, not I
Dead flowers for the battered sky
Tell your fathers and the ones you love
Somebody's body could use your touch
Zero one data, one two, one two
The lyrics of Black Mountain's song Florian Saucer Attack refer to an unexpected, daring attack from an unidentified flying saucer, the Florian saucer. The song describes a scene of chaos and destruction, shattered dreams, and lost lives, with bodies lying cold and motionless as if made of cement, under the winter sun in Berlin. The phrase "zero one data, one two, one two" seems to suggest a digital communication, a transmission of information about the attack, while "calculated dreams," "graphs and numbers," and "calculated stealth" imply that the event was planned and executed with precision and science. However, despite the scientific language, the song's mood is one of melancholy and regret, with the repeated refrain "not him, not I" and "dead flowers for the battered sky," evoking a sense of loss and hopelessness.
The song has been interpreted in different ways, from a commentary on the dangers of technology and warfare to a metaphor for the human condition and our fragile existence in a vast, unpredictable universe. Some fans have also noted the references to German history and culture, with the name Florian possibly a nod to Saint Florian, the patron saint of firefighters, and the setting of Berlin recalling the city's iconic role in World War II and the Cold War. Overall, the song captures a sense of eerie uncertainty and beauty, with its haunting melodies and lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Florian saucer attack, it's over
The attack led by the UFO named Florian has ended
Zero one data, one two, one two
Code lingo used to signify a message has been received
Calculated dreams graphs and numbers
Plans made through graphs and numbers
Not him, not I
Neither the singer nor the mentioned person is responsible
Cold bodies with the cement eyes
Dead bodies with unresponsive eyes
Over Berlin ‘neath the winter sun
Referencing a location and time for the tragedy
Tell your fathers and the ones you love
Urging the audience to share this information with loved ones
Dead flowers for the battered sky
Symbolic reference to death and destruction
Somebody's body could use your touch
Encouraging the audience to connect with others and show kindness
Calculated stealth graphs and numbers
Secret plans made through graphs and numbers
Contributed by Adrian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Saturnine313
+ace4401
Florian saucer attack, it’s over
Zero one data one two one two
Calculated dreams graphs and numbers
Zero one data one two one two
Not him, not I
Cold bodies with the cement eyes
Over Berlin ‘neath the winter sun
Tell your father and the ones you love
Not him, not I
Dead flowers for the battered sky
Tell your father and the ones you love
Somebody’s body could use your touch
Zero one data one two one two
Florian saucer attack, it’s over
Zero one data one two one two
Calculated stealth graphs and numbers
Zero one data one two one two
Not him, not I
Cold bodies with the cement eyes
Over Berlin ‘neath the winter sun
Tell your father and the ones you love
Not him, not I
Dead flowers for the battered sky
Tell your father and the ones you love
Somebody’s body could use your touch
Zero one data one two one two
@ryanrockers
I love Chad's videos. And Black Mountain. And this song.
@erikverdusco7306
I love black mountian. Chad Van Gallen directed and created this video. He's also a awesome singer!!
@ZepIV
I HAVE BEEN SENT BY DAVE THE GROHL, FIGHTER OF FOOS, KING OF ARLANDRIA AND FIRST OF HIS NAME, WRITER OF TUNES, AND BREAKER OF LEGS.
Good shit.
@regrsansar
best comment here, breaker of legs lol
@seansmith2545
That has to be the best comment i've ever seen
@bsons4870
Yess!!
@PedroAmorim83
Haha
@pedrorobalo4093
Me too, this is awsome
@aitechnasus1041
I Love Black Mountain They Are The Future Of Rock And Roll In The 21st Century. They Sound Like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin And Pink Floyd. Long Live Black Mountain I Hope They Continue To Record Excellent Albums In The Future.
@l8dybug65
This reminds me of Heavy Metal movie from 1981. Modern version? Good stuff.