Move Any Mountain
# Move Any Mountain

"Move Any Mountain" is a song by Scottish electronic music group the Shamen, 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 2014 Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park 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.

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

## Critical reception

AllMusic editor John Bush viewed the song as an "infectious techno-pop anthem". Upon the release of "Progen", Bill Coleman from Billboard described it as "an aggressive track that makes no bones about blurring the lines between industrial and house music." Another editor, Larry Flick, 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, lies a simplistic and memorable modern-pop tune." Andy Kastanas from The Charlotte Observer deemed it "a bright uptempo dance trip that will have your hiney shakin' before you can say "rave"."

Dave Jennings from Melody Maker 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 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 from Record Mirror viewed the track as an "catchy chanting I can move, move, move any mountain UK oldie". William Shaw from Smash Hits 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, Tenerife. Shortly afterwards, Will Sinnott drowned off the coast of the neighbouring island La Gomera.

## UK releases

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.

## Versions

Versions published by One Little Indian Records in the UK :

| Title | Remixer | Length | Format | Year | | | | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pro›gen Pro›gen (7a) Move Any Mountain (Beat Edit) | The Beatmasters | 3:30 | 7" Cass 7", 12", CD, Cass | 1990 | p p m | E | P | |
| Pro›gen (Dub Mix) Pro›gen (7b) Move Any Mountain (Beatmasters Dub) | The Beatmasters | 3:52 | 7" 12", CD 12", CD, Cass | 1990 | p p | | P | |
| Pro›gen (C-mix F+) | Colin Angus, Mr. C | 7:01 | 12" | 1990 | p | | | |
| Pre›gen | Steve Osborne | 5:48 | 12", CD | 1990 | p | | | |
| Pro›gen ('Land of Oz' Mix) Move Any Mountain (Land of Oz) | Paul Oakenfold | 5:42 | 12", CD, Cass 12", CD, Cass | 1990 | p | | P | |
| Pro›gen (C-mix F-) | Colin Angus, Mr. C | | Cass | 1990 | p | | | |
| Pro›gen (C-mix Dub) | Colin Angus, Mr. C | 6:35 | 12" promo | 1990 | p | | | |
| Progen (Land of Oz) | Paul Oakenfold | 4:07 | 12", CD, Cass | 1990 | | e | | |
| Move Any Mountain (Rude Edit) | The Goat | 3:44 | 7", 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | m | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain (Landslide) | The Kid & John | 4:51 | 12" | 1991 | m | | | |
| Move Any Mountain (Devil) | 'Evil' Eddie Richards | 4:40 | 12" | 1991 | m | | | |
| Move Any Mountain (Rude) | The Goat | 5:03 | 12" | 1991 | m | | | |
| Move Any Mountain (I.R.P. in the Land of Oz) | Paul Oakenfold | 5:02 | 12" | 1991 | m | | | |
| Move Any Mountain (Landslide Edit) | The Kid & John | 3:48 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | m | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain (F2 Mello) Move Any Mountain (Alta Vista) | F. Troop | 6:12 | CD 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | m | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain (Mountains in the Sky) | Caspar Pound | 6:03 | CD | 1991 | m | | | |
| Move Any Mountain (Bang to the Beat Dub) | 'Evil' Eddie Richards, Bryan 'Chuck' New | | 12" promo | 1991 | m | | | |
| Move Any Mountain (Caspars First Dub) | Caspar Pound | | 12" promo | 1991 | m | | | |
| Move Any Mountain (C-mix D.E.) | Colin Angus, Mr. C, Ian Tregoning | | 12" promo | 1991 | m | | | |
| Move Any Mountain (F2 Faster) | F. Troop | | 12" promo | 1991 | m | | | |
| Move Any Mountain (Whizz) | 'Evil' Eddie Richards | | 12" promo | 1991 | m | | | |
| Move Any Mountain (The Sound of Pro-gen) | Ian Tregoning, Mads Bjerke, Steve Osborne | | 12" promo | 1991 | m | | | |
| Move Any Mountain (666 Edit) | 'Evil' Eddie Richards | 4:49 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | | E | P | |
| Progen 91 (I.R.P. in the Land of Oz) | Paul Oakenfold | 5:21 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | | E | | |
| Move Any Mountain (Bang to the Beat of the Drum) | 'Evil' Eddie Richards, Bryan 'Chuck' New | 5:45 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | | | P | M |
| Move Any Mountain (Beltram Vox) | Joey Beltram | 5:25 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain (Rising High Dub) | Caspar Pound | 7:25 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain (The Prelude to Paradise Beat Mix) | Frankie Bones | 5:12 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain (The Bones Break Mastermix) | Frankie Bones | 6:11 | 12", Cass | 1991 | | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain (Landslide Vox) | The Kid & John | 5:27 | 12", Cass | 1991 | | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain (Rude) | The Goat | 5:40 | 12", Cass | 1991 | | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain (C mix) | Colin Angus, Mr. C | 6:47 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain (F. Troop Edit) | F. Troop | 3:27 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain (Oz Edit) | Paul Oakenfold | 3:39 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | | | P | M |
| Move Any Mountain (Bang Edit) | 'Evil' Eddie Richards, Bryan 'Chuck' New | 3:32 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | | | P | |
| 16 samples & beats | | 5:39 | 12", CD, Cass | 1991 | | | P | |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Loaded Dub) | Andy Ling | 11:37 | 12" | 1996 | | | | M |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Unknown Pleasure Dub) | Axis Shift | 11:39 | 12" | 1996 | | | | M |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Tomka Mix) | Rhythm Masters | 7:30 | 12", CD | 1996 | | | | M |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Tomka Dub) | Rhythm Masters | | 12" | 1996 | | | | M |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Tony De Vit Mix) | Tony De Vit | 7:32 | 12", CD | 1996 | | | | M |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Tony De Vit 7" Edit) | Tony De Vit | 4:10 | 12", CD, Cass | 1996 | | | | M |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Bush Flange Mix) | Bush Flange | | 12" | 1996 | | | | M |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Sneaker Pimps Mix) | Sneaker Pimps, Line of Flight | 7:29 | 12", CD | 1996 | | | | M |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Forces of Nature Mix) | Forces of Nature | | 12" | 1996 | | | | M |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Forces of Nature Dub) | Forces of Nature | | 12" | 1996 | | | | M |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Beatmasters Radio Mix) | The Beatmasters | 4:02 | CD, Cass | 1996 | | | | M |
| Move Any Mountain '96 (Beatmasters 12" Mix) | The Beatmasters | 7:22 | CD | 1996 | | | | M |

Legend: p = "Pro›gen", m = "Move Any Mountain – Progen 91", e = En-tact (1990), E = En-tact (1991), P = Progeny, M = "Move Any Mountain '96"

## Release history

| Region | Version | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| United Kingdom | Original | 15 July 1991 | 7-inch vinyl12-inch vinylCDcassette | One Little Indian |
| United States | Original | 26 September 1991 | 12-inch vinyl | Fokus |
| United Kingdom | "Move Any Mountain '96" | 9 December 1996 | CDcassette | One Little Indian |
| United Kingdom | "Move Any Mountain '96" | 16 December 1996 | 12-inch vinyl | One Little Indian |
