Mount Eerie – Wind’s Poem
[This week's Sunday Supplement is written by Matthew, who has kindly volunteered to help out with the label and the blog until he goes back to college in the Autumn.]
I think it’s safe to say Wind’s Poem is Phil Elverum’s third proper studio release under Mount Eerie, though I could be wrong; he has released compilations and various other bits and pieces which I haven’t really been able to keep up with, sadly, but I don’t think they’re albums per se. Phil had said that this album would be “black metal”, which rather confused me. I thought it might be a joke. I’m still not quite sure really.
The album is just plain weird – great, but weird. It completely deviates from the quintessential acoustic lo-fi genius that everyone knows from No Flashlight and The Microphones albums. It’s dark, mysterious, eerie, quietly loud and foggy. When I say foggy, I mean it’s like looking out into a foggy street and feeling relieved to be inside. I do love when an album can take you somewhere.
It can be divided into two parts: the songs that are discordant and raucous and those that are calm and comforting. I personally prefer the latter, which is thankfully the majority, with it’s soothing ability and strange imagery. The loud songs are probably what Phil meant when he said “black metal”. I don’t know about you, but black metal in my dictionary means awful headache.
Only a few tracks prevent this album from being absolutely fucking fantastic. Shame really.
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Mount Eerie – Between Two Mysteries
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Hmm. A lot of my friends love this, but listening to these two tracks I don’t really understand what it is that lifts this above the nice atmosphere which underlies the songs. I suppose I don’t quite get where the really compelling elements are – similar to how I felt about Bon Iver actually.
I don’t think it’s meant to have any compelling elements. I mean, it’s not catchy, but it does have some sort of persuasive intrigue about it.
I can imagine – although I think I might have to listen to it a little more to really get that side of it properly. Not one for the middle of the working day when you’re supposed to be doing something else.
I love this band. And I love this record. mr.toad- go educate yourself by way of the microphones…you will be rewarded.
…start with The Glow Pt. 2.
yessssss, at LAST!
Matthew number two, THANKYOU for reviewing this here.
do listen to the glow pt. 2, toadster. it is responsible for me doing nothing for hours as i get lost in the mist and the mountains.
I love the fact that Two Mysteries references Twin Peaks both musically and lyrically.
I think that’s the attraction to Mount Eerie/Phil Elverum, he has themes, he has mood, he has lyrics that make me shiver with pride, he has weather, he has the isolation and shimmer of company within what is around us. He reminds me that you can have soundscapes like stars of the lid mixed with a voice. A voice that sounds almost empty, hollow, yet filled with eveything that I could wish for.
More reviews by matthew number two please!
(no offence matthew number one!)
I’m rather flabbergasted by that comment. Thank you…
FIRED!
Oh no.