 "Photo:")
 "Photo:")
 "Photo:")
 "Photo:")
Phil Elvrum, who up until recently recorded under the name The Microphones, has had much to keep him busy since the release of his last album, "Mount Eerie." In February 2003, following the album's release, Elvrum revealed that he had ended The Microphones project and had changed the name to Mount Eerie. He's toured extensively through the United States, Europe and Japan, which culminated in the release of a live album. He spent much of his time in reclusion in Norway, and has moved from Olympia, Wash., the home of his label K Records, and relocated in Anacortes. He recently started an imprint called Phil Elvrum & Sun to release vinyl-only individual side projects, all decorated in handmade material. The first album, to be released on Oct. 5, is by his friend's group, Thanksgiving, entitled "Welcome Nowhere."
The Microphones released four proper albums, along with a slew of limited singles and EPs since their earliest inception in 1999. The latest album is a concept album even more epic in scope, concerning the search for identity in a seemingly endless universe. It breaks with its predecessors' love of simple Beach Boys-esque melodies for the grandiose appeal of distant theories and abstractions, but retains its endearing wide-eyed honesty.
Mount Eerie includes regular contributors Calvin Johnson, Mirah, Karl Blau and Kyle Field of Little Wings, each taking separate roles for what resembles an Olympia Children's Choir performing Greek tragedy. Elvrum's lyrical stream-of-consciousness invokes the same quiet patience for gradual movements as the sprawling guitar feedback and layers of organs, which ebb and flow like the tides while rumbling drumrolls rise and fall like the crashing of waves.
Just how different Mount Eerie will be from The Microphones still remains to be seen. A glimpse at the recently recorded two 12-inches, "Seven New Songs by Mount Eerie" and "Two Songs at the Anacortes venue Department of Safety," suggests that Mount Eerie isn't all that different. All the songs have the imprint of a gifted songwriter accompanied by the simple strumming of a guitar that closely mirror Elvrum's live performances.
Below, Phil Elvrum answers questions concerning the state of Mount Eerie.
Daily Texan: What events led up to your disbanding of The Microphones in favor of your new group, Mount Eerie?
Phil Elvrum: The Microphones was never a band. It was always only me, with occasional friends singing for 10 seconds. Mt. Eerie is the same. There was no disbanding. I just wanted to start over. I wanted to "lose fans" and have a blank piece of paper because the old one was full.
DT: I guess "disband" was a poor word choice. What do you mean exactly by "lose fans?" Do you feel that with your growing popularity that people expect a certain sound from you?
PE: I was being "funny." I guess people might start to expect certain things from me, and I try not to think about it. If there is an expectation, I will probably be driven to the opposite of it.
DT: Do you feel that these expectations limit you artistically?
PE: Yes, certainly. Doesn't everybody feel like their parents' expectations of them are the biggest life burdens? It's like that.
DT: At what point did you feel that it was time for a change?
PE: It was a growing feeling for a couple years.
DT: How do you feel that Mount Eerie will differ from previous Microphones releases?
PE: I don't know yet. I haven't started recording. The songs are about different stuff.
DT: Has the subject matter changed? What themes are you interested in now as opposed to your time as the Microphones?
PE: I don't quite understand the new subject matter well enough to be able to sum it up yet. It has something to do with "dark hills" and the idea of "the song of the bat." It's still unveiling slowly.
DT: Do you plan to have your regular collaborators participate on future Mount Eerie records?
PE: Many of my friends have moved away from Olympia, and I have too. We are not as geographically close, so it might be difficult. It would be nice. It might just be me for a while.
DT: Do you predict that the fans you've acquired thus far will continue to follow you into your Mount Eerie project?
PE: I have no idea. I think people will still be into it. I am not that different, if at all.
Mount Eerie will perform with Sound Team, Shearwater and Woelv at Emo's Friday, Oct. 1.
Be the first to comment on this article!