Microphones - Mount Eerie
(K)
If you happened to be kicking around webzines and other sites of music geek pilgrimage during the summer of 2001, you probably heard something about the Microphones' The Glow Pt. 2. Critics were salivating over Phil Elvrum's landmark work, and rightfully so. On The Glow Pt. 2, Elvrum was able to meld grandiose intentions with a clear understanding of what makes a song work. For this reason, comparisons between his latest opus and his previous full-length effort will likely abound. The Glow Pt. 2 only hinted at the imagination and ambition showcased on the new record and any examination of Mount Eerie should open a whole new discussion.
Mount Eerie unfolds as one continuous piece of music, with its five parts seamed together by spurts of noise and haunting harmonies. Starting off with what is probably Elvrum's most profound musical statement, "The Sun" is a 17 minute epic that moves from subtle waves and pulses of tape fuzz to pounding drums and finally a meandering bass line. Despite such long-winded compositions, Mount Eerie is a little on the lean side (it runs around 40 minutes, but feels shorter), especially for listeners reared on the meaty The Glow Pt. 2. In those 40 minutes however, it manages to capture the essence of the concept album, with an engaging narrative that also allows room for interpretation.
Elvrum has always insisted on sharing the spotlight with his Microphones co-horts, among them Mirah, Karl Blau, and Kyle Field. His collective approach to music making hits a peak on "Mt. Eerie," as Phil passes the limelight over to Karl Blau and Kyle Field. But whilst Phil ascends the mountain and preaches from his perch atop the peak, the album's only weakness becomes apparent. Mount Eerie seems somewhat detached and distant, and lacks the immediacy of The Glow Pt. 2. This is a small criticism though, for the new record is a vast work waiting to be explored.
Much has been made of Phil Elvrum's elemental lyrics. On past Microphones releases, Elvrum has been pounded by high winds, trapped under ice, and rooted in the ground. Towards the end of Mount Eerie, after his body has been picked to pieces by birds, he disappears altogether, disintegrating into the atmosphere with only his particles remaining to envelope the listener. The obvious question: where can he possibly go from here? My prediction for Mount Eerie Pt. 2: Phil becomes "the listener."
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