On The RCRD: Mount Eerie
Phil Elverum, the (yes) genius behind Mount Eerie and The Microphones, has produced compelling LPs with a level of consistency rarely seen from other artists in this era. 2012 has seen Clear Moon and Ocean Roar – two dynamic releases that represent an exploration into new sonic frontiers while still retaining his trademark intimacy and uniquely insular worldview.
While the character 'Phil Elverum' is often steadfast and carries concrete interests, the variance in his song structure and production has often been staggering. From the ultra-pretty wall of noise in "Ocean Roar" to the pummeling "Pale Lights," which merges Krautrock, black metal and Stereolab and turns it all into hypnotic headphone candy, Mount Eerie can evoke Pacific Northwest provincialism ("The Place I Live"), artistic bepuzzlement ("Through The Trees Pt. 2") and a distinct wonder at everyday routines and isolation ("I Walked Home Beholding") with a careful yet naturalistic looseness.
We got Elverum to go On The RCRD and discuss the learning process inherent in making records alone, striving to be more empathetic and why the music industry is a terrifying beast.
Life changing record for you was…
"Love Tara" by Eric's Trip (LP)
What people, outside of music, have influenced you over the last year?
The author of "the Living", Annie Dillard
What did you learn about yourself and/or the world at large the last time you made a record?
That is still being learned. It takes me a long time to digest what's going on with any particular record/life phase, and I only really can see what all happened in hindsight. It's all still fresh and tumultuous.
What gift would you most like to possess?
More empathy, better memory. I would like to remember peoples' names.
What quality do you admire most in a song?
Creating disorienting mystery by using regular language.
What's your take on the music business in 2012?
A terrorizing beast that has been stabbed many times, bleeding to death, wheezing in a dark corner.
Best instrument ever invented was….
Distortion
