Clear Moon | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 22, 2012 | |||
Recorded | October 3, 2010 to January 7th, 2012 [1] | |||
Studio | the Unknown, Anacortes, Washington [1] | |||
Genre | Indie rock, experimental | |||
Length | 41:42 | |||
Label | P.W. Elverum & Sun, Ltd. (ELV 025/043) | |||
Producer | Phil Elverum | |||
Mount Eerie chronology | ||||
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Mount Eerie studio album chronology | ||||
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Singles from Clear Moon | ||||
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Clear Moon is the fifth studio album by Mount Eerie,a solo project by American musician Phil Elverum. It was released May 22,2012 on Elverum's own label P.W. Elverum &Sun. The album was written and produced entirely by Elverum,who recorded it at his studio the Unknown.
Musically,Clear Moon sees Elverum depart from the distortion-heavy sound of his previous studio album, Wind's Poem ,in favour of a hypnotic,guitar and synthesizer based sound. To promote the album,Elverum released two singles,"House Shape" on March 22,2012,and "Lone Bell" on April 24,2012. Elverum also embarked on North American/European tours.
Clear Moon received critical acclaim and was commercially successful. It is the first part of an aesthetically and conceptually connected duo of albums released by Mount Eerie in 2012,the other being Ocean Roar.
Clear Moon is the first of two albums released by Mount Eerie in 2012,the other being Ocean Roar. [2] Both albums are aesthetically and conceptually connected and represent a "transition from day-to-day." [3] [4] [5] Elverum chose not to release Clear Moon and Ocean Roar as a double album as he felt that it was too much for listeners to take in and that such a release would be too similar to his previous studio albums. [6]
The album initially came from Elverum experimenting with instruments such as a gong and organs and use of the space within sound during winter months. [3] [6] Most of the aforementioned experimentations were discarded,however some were eventually developed and were placed into 2 distinct groups:Clear Moon and Ocean Roar. [3] [6] The songs that were chosen for Clear Moon were based on if they evoked "sharp clarity". [3] The album was recorded on analogue equipment from October 3,2010,to January 7,2012,in Anacortes,Washington at Elverum's studio the Unknown. [1] [7] Elverum described the recording process as:
...spending days and days fucking around and trying things, moving it a little bit, accidentally leaving the mic on and hearing the tape rewinding through the speaker echoing through the room, recording that sound onto another piece of tape, pitching it down, putting it with this other thing, spending two days pursuing this weird possibility only to realize it sucks. [8]
Said studio was an overarching influence on the development of the album. [6] Elverum cites Burzum, Eihei Dōgen, Gary Snyder, Cold Mountain and zen poetry as an influence on the album. [6] [9] Other influences include Popol Vuh, Wolves in the Throne Room, Menace Ruine, and Nadja. [7] [10] [11]
Musically, Clear Moon is a departure from Elverum's previous studio album, the distortion-heavy Wind's Poem ; replacing the heavy guitars for "ominous rumbling and isolated feedback squalls." [6] [12] Described as "lush and expansive," [13] the album is predominantly guitar-based, featuring downplayed vocals, droning organs, 4/4 drum beats, chimes and "overlapping, hypnotic guitar lines." [6] [14] [15] The album takes inspiration from multiple genres such as psychedelia, folk, chamber, electronic, ambient and metal. [15] [16] Themes of solitude, which Elverum presents through the imagery of the moon, a recurring motif in the album and his work at large, and maturity are present, with the album seeing Elverum exploring new avenues of his established sound and lyrical content. [15] [17] [18] According to Thomas May the songs on Clear Moon are the most melodically dynamic he has created since The Glow Pt. 2. [18] Tonally, the album is clearer and lighter than Ocean Roar, while still retaining Elverum's typical dark style, [19] and has more extensive use of synthesizer and vocals. [5] [6] [4] The range of tempo is diverse throughout the record. [14]
Lyrically, the songs makes reference to existentialism, [16] the artificiality of being an artist, Elverum's relation to nature, his life in Anacortes, Washington and "the unexpected moments of clarity that briefly flash through." [6] [7] [14] Narratively, it expands on the story first introduced in the final Microphones studio album at the time, Mount Eerie , and sees Elverum traverse the ocean and undergo a metaphorical rebirth. [20] Elverum described the album as a "resonant lone bell symbol, the glint in the water, the sudden breath" and as an "abstract non-narrative diary" exploring his mental state. [7] [8]
Philosophical in nature, the quite, melodic, [21] drum- and acoustic guitar-driven, folk jazz, [22] opening track "Through the Trees Pt. 2" has Elverum calmly singing about "nature, life and death, [and] the inherent pointlessness of existence." [13] [14] [23] As the song goes on more instrumentation such as additional percussion, piano resonant strings and bells are added. [22] [23] The song also make use of ambient noise, Elverum's "trademark" humor and stereo panning with the guitars utilising the left and right speakers. [24] [25]
"The Place Lives" explores humanity's relation and ultimate insignificance to the world at large in a lyrical manner akin to Japanese poetry. [5] [24] Instruments such as piano and cymbals are present on the song. [26] Reminiscent of the sound of Earth, the third song "The Place I Live" is a "hymn-like ode to Anacortes". [27] It begins with a single bass guitar before synthesizer, electric guitar and vocals by Allyson Foster are soon incorporated, concluding in a near-grunge manner. [28] [29] It also features feedback, strings, drums, a "heart beat pulse" and double tracking on the guitar. [23] [24] [27] [29] Elverum and Foster sing in a call-and-response manner. [13] Foster is also featured on "Through the Trees Pt. 2". [1] The fourth and eighth tracks, both entitled "(something)", serve as instrumental interludes, dividing the album into three distinct sections. [24] [30]
"Lone Bell" is a jazz-like noise rock song, composed of processed vocals, piano, [20] saxophone accents, snare drum brushes, bass and "metal" riffs and two repeating droning chords. [14] [23] [31] Utilising space and repetition in a manner similar to that of Neu!, [28] "House Shape" features a pump organ, detuned acoustic guitars, strings, keyboard, drums and elements of shoegaze. [8] [31] According to Elverum, "Lone Bell" and House Shape" are fairly indicative of the sound of Clear Moon. [3]
"Over Dark Water" is a gothic, doom metal "anti-hymn to night and nothingness" which features choral singing from Geneviève Castrée. [1] [19] [31] It is composed of drums, synthesized strings, organ, bass guitar and distorted electric guitar and synthesized bass played in unison. [5] [31] The song concludes with a drum-heavy black metal climax. [5]
Described as the climax of the album, [21] the cacophonous title track features manipulated—vocoder-like—vocals from Elverum alongside additional vocals from Carson Churchill and Paul Benson. [1] [28] It also features "hum-like" bass, synthesizer, cymbals, keyboards chants and bells. [14] [19] [26] "Yawning Sky" is an ambient track with lyrical themes of man's frailty and mortality and keyboards and guitar. [26] [32] "(Synthesizer)" is an instrumental new-age song which Elverum described as an "extreme exaggeration of what [the] album is." [5]
The first track released from Clear Moon, "House Shape", was released on March 22, 2012, on SoundCloud. [33] The second track released from the album was "Lone Bell," released on April 24, 2012, on SoundCloud. [34] On May 13, 2012, the album was streamed in its entirety on NPR Music. [15] On July 31, 2012, Elverum released his first music video through Pitchfork TV for “The Place Lives”. [35] [36] It is composed of footage of Elverum traversing Oregon woods, brewing a pot of tea, and pouring that tea into the dirt. [37] Stereogum chose it as one of the best videos of the week of its release. [37]
In support of the album, Elverum embarked on a tour of Europe from March 2012 to April 2012. [10] Elverum was accompanied by Earth and Ô PAON. [10] This was succeeded by a North American tour from August 2012 to October 2012. [38] Elverum was accompanied by Loren Mazzacane Connors and Bouquet as well as a live band consisting of a drummer, a bass player, two guitarists, a keyboardist and three singers. [38] [6]
On October 17, 2012, Phil released a 7-inch single entitled "Clear Moon / Ocean Roar (Condensed Versions)". Side A consists of all the songs on Clear Moon played at once [39]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10 [40] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [41] |
The A.V. Club | B [30] |
Consequence of Sound | B [14] |
No Ripcord | 8/10 [28] |
Pitchfork | 8.3/10 [42] |
Spin | 8/10 [43] |
Sputnikmusic | [44] |
Tiny Mix Tapes | [45] |
Under the Radar | 7/10 [31] |
Clear Moon received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave Clear Moon 7.9 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. [40]
Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote that "Elverum's meditation on the fact that life goes on within you and without you is thoughtful and thorough in a way few other songwriters could manage". [41] David Greenwald of The A.V. Club found that album was "meaningful without feeling personal" and that it was a "thunderous effort". [30] Sean Caldwell of No Ripcord wrote that "Elverum’s utilization of metallic and avant-garde elements into what might otherwise be considered a folk album demonstrates a songwriter unlimited by genre and also turned on by creative possibility". [28]
Jayson Greene of Pitchfork wrote that "the album's sound, meanwhile has the misty-but-tactile feeling of a sense memory. Every sound echoes from side to side of the mix, and the effect isn't so much "panning" as it is a shimmering omnipresence". [42] "kingsoby1" of Sputnikmusic wrote the following: "The impressive thing about Clear Moon though is how truly organically rooted it is. The recording is still lo-fi, but not such that there is a lapse in quality. Elverum's recording techniques really enhance the compositions". [44] Joe Clinkenbread of Spectrum Culture despite liking the album found it hard to judge the album on its own and described some songs such as "Lone Bell" and both "(Something)" songs as underwhelming. [20]
The album was also commercially successful selling out its first pressing almost immediately. [36]
Donovan Farley of Willamette Week chose "The Place I Live" and "Through the Trees Pt. 2" as two of Elverum's "essential" songs. [13] Eric Hill of Exclaim! Included the album in a ranking of Elverum's "essential" albums. [46] A version of "Lone Bell" was used as the lead single for Elverum's album "Pre-Human Ideas". [47]
All tracks are written by Phil Elverum
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Through the Trees Pt. 2" | 5:50 |
2. | "The Place Lives" | 2:42 |
3. | "The Place I Live" | 5:58 |
4. | "(Something)" | 1:31 |
5. | "Lone Bell" | 4:15 |
6. | "House Shape" | 4:03 |
7. | "Over Dark Water" (featuring Geneviève Castrée) | 3:06 |
8. | "(Something)" | 0:30 |
9. | "Clear Moon" | 7:20 |
10. | "Yawning Sky" | 3:28 |
11. | "(Synthesizer)" | 2:59 |
Total length: | 41:42 |
The Microphones were an American indie folk, indie rock, and experimental project from Olympia, Washington. The project was founded in 1996 and ended in 2003, with a short reunion following in 2007 and revivals in 2019 and 2020. Across every iteration of the Microphones, it has been fronted by Phil Elverum. Elverum is the principal songwriter and producer behind the band's albums, but he has also collaborated with other local musicians on his other recordings and tours. Many of Elverum's recordings from the project's initial period were released by the label K Records.
Mount Eerie is the musical project of American songwriter and producer Phil Elverum. Elverum is the principal member of the band, but has collaborated with many other musicians on his records and in live performances. Most of Mount Eerie's releases have been issued on Elverum's label P.W. Elverum & Sun, Ltd., and feature highly detailed packaging with his own artwork.
Philip Whitman Elverum is an American musician, best known for his musical projects the Microphones and Mount Eerie. Based in Anacortes, Washington, in the mid-2000s he began to spell his surname Elvrum as "Elverum".
The Glow Pt. 2 is the third studio album by American indie folk and indie rock project the Microphones. It was released on September 11, 2001, through K Records and later through P.W. Elverum & Sun, Ltd. Recording was done on analog equipment at Dub Narcotic, Olympia, Washington, from May 2000 to March 2001. The album takes influences from numerous music genres such as black metal, ambient and avant-garde, as well as non-musical sources like the American drama television show Twin Peaks and primary member Phil Elverum's relationship to Khaela Maricich. Elverum was responsible for the album's production in its entirety.
"No Flashlight": Songs of the Fulfilled Night is the debut studio album released by the band Mount Eerie. It was released on the 9th May 2005 and features appearances by Geneviève Castrée and Jason Wall.
It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water is the second studio album by American indie folk and indie rock band the Microphones. It was released by K Records on September 26, 2000. After gaining a small following with 1999's Don't Wake Me Up, frontman Phil Elverum recorded It Was Hot at Dub Narcotic Studio in Olympia, Washington, between September 1999 and March 2000. Recorded on analog tape, Elverum embraced the medium's technical imperfections. Classified by critics as indie rock, lo-fi, and indie pop, It Was Hot revolves thematically around the concept of water, with lyrics focusing on nature. The 11-minute track "The Glow" acts as the album's climax and introduces the concept of the "glow", which would be explored in more depth on the Microphones' subsequent studio album, The Glow Pt. 2.
Mount Eerie is the fourth studio album by American indie folk and indie rock band the Microphones, released by K Records on January 21, 2003. The album is named after the mountain Mount Erie near Anacortes, Washington, which is the hometown of Phil Elverum, the band's frontman. The album received generally positive reviews from critics, including accolades such as Pitchfork's "Best New Music" title and inclusion on Treblezine's list of "essential" psychedelic folk albums.
Seven New Songs of "Mount Eerie" is the debut EP by Mount Eerie, released on June 1, 2004.
Lost Wisdom is the second studio album by Mount Eerie, with Canadian musicians Julie Doiron and Frederick Squire. It was released on October 7, 2008 on P. W. Elverum & Sun, less than a month before Elverum's next album under the Mount Eerie name, Dawn, was released, which featured songs from this album. A follow-up album, Lost Wisdom pt. 2, was released in 2019, without Frederick Squire.
Dawn, also known as Dawn: Winter Journal, is the third full-length album by Mount Eerie. It was officially released November 1, 2008 on P. W. Elverum & Sun.
Wind's Poem is the fourth full-length album by Mount Eerie, released on July 14, 2009. Several of the tracks are inspired by black metal, and showcases Phil Elverum's "relatively newfound affinity for Xasthur and other lynchpins of the unholy genre."
Ocean Roar is the sixth studio album by Mount Eerie, released on August 29, 2012. It is the second of two albums released by Mount Eerie in 2012.
Sauna is the seventh full-length album by Mount Eerie. It was released on February 3, 2015.
A Crow Looked at Me is the eighth studio album by Mount Eerie, a solo project of the American musician Phil Elverum. Released in 2017, it was composed in the aftermath of his 35-year-old wife Geneviève Castrée's diagnosis with pancreatic cancer in 2015, and her death in July 2016. Elverum wrote and recorded the songs over a six-week period in the room where she died, mostly using her instruments. His sparse lyrics and minimalistic musical accompaniment drew influence from a broad range of artists, including the poet Gary Snyder, author Karl Ove Knausgård and songwriter Julie Doiron.
Now Only is the ninth studio album by Mount Eerie, the solo project of American musician Phil Elverum. It was released on March 16, 2018, on Elverum's record label P.W. Elverum & Sun. Like the preceding Mount Eerie album A Crow Looked at Me, Now Only is a concept album in the aftermath of the death of Elverum's wife, the cartoonist and musician Geneviève Castrée; Elverum described it as the second part of that album. The album was entirely written and produced by Elverum, and recorded in the room in which Castrée died.
Lost Wisdom pt. 2 is the second collaborative studio album by Mount Eerie and Julie Doiron. It was released on November 8, 2019. Like the previous two Mount Eerie albums, it concerns the death of Geneviève Castrée, the first wife of Mount Eerie's principal member Phil Elverum, as well as his recent divorce from Michelle Williams. The album is a sequel to the 2008 collaborative album Lost Wisdom.
Pre-Human Ideas is a compilation album released by Phil Elverum under the name Mount Eerie, on November 12, 2013. The album consists of computerised versions of songs from his 2012 releases Clear Moon and Ocean Roar, plus 2 organ excerpts from the songs "Pale Lights" and "The Place Lives" from Clear Moon and Ocean Roar respectively.
Song Islands vol. 2 is a compilation album by Mount Eerie. It was released on October 19, 2010. It is a sequel to the Microphones album Song Islands.
Microphones in 2020 is the fifth and final studio album by American indie folk and indie rock band the Microphones. It is a concept album consisting of one 44-minute song about frontman Phil Elverum's life and musical career. Elverum began the Microphones in 1996, releasing four studio albums before retiring the moniker in 2003. He instead opted to release his music under Mount Eerie as he felt the themes had changed. After performing a show under the Microphones name in 2019, the attention it received motivated Elverum to return to the project.
The Microphones were an American indie folk, indie rock, and experimental band, founded and fronted by Phil Elverum. The band has released 5 studio albums, 13 miscellaneous albums, 3 extended plays, and 8 singles. Elverum began the Microphones initially as a solo project, releasing cassette demos of tests and experiments. Between 1996 and 1998, Elverum released four demos, mostly on Bret Lunsford's label Knw-Yr-Own. The CD Tests, released in June 1998, was a compilation album comprising tracks from previous cassettes. The same year, the band released the 7" single "Bass Drum Dream". The band's first studio album, Don't Wake Me Up, was released on K Records in August 1999 and gave the band a small following. Two more 7-inches were released in 1999: "Feedback " and "Moon Moon".
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