here.<\/a><\/p>\nIn high school in Anacortes Washington in 1996, Phil Elverum started calling his tapes of self-recorded noise and songs \u0093The Microphones\u0094.\u00a0 Since then he\u0092s produced two decades worth of records that span a wide spectrum from studio heavy atmospheric landscaping to simple raw songs.<\/p>\n
The Microphones project was nourished by and located within the community of artists around K Records in Olympia in the late 90s\/early 2000s, and Phil Elverum\u0092smusical ideas were clearly the product of the flood of independent music in the NW during those years.<\/p>\n
After five albums the project was renamed Mount Eerie just as the Microphones were getting some unexpected attention from the widespread acclaim of \u0093the Glow pt. 2\u0094 (2001). The Mount Eerie recordings got weirder and broader, and Elverum left K Records and began releasing everything himself, ultimately building a self-contained small town operation in Anacortes called P.W. Elverum & Sun.\u00a0 Radical self-sufficiency has been a theme and obsession;\u00a0 all all ages shows and never though a manager or booking agent, always self-recorded, hands on in all details.<\/p>\n
Mount Eerie\u0092s albums have always aimed to push into new territory, both in sound and idea, but the thread of Elverum\u0092s voice has remained constant throughout, soft and human amid the wide range of textures and worlds.\u00a0 Often the lyrics have attempted to grapple with big questions, the briefness and the smallness of human life being a running theme.\u00a0 On occasion the music has been called \u0093black metal\u0094 (‘Wind\u0092s Poem’, 2009), \u0093dream landscape\u0094 (‘Clear Moon’, 2012), and \u0093raw and direct\u0094 (‘Lost Wisdom’, 2008).<\/p>\n
The new album, \u0093’A Crow Looked At Me\u0094,’ sounds closer to the latter; minimal instrumentation, no production, clear and heavy words right up front. The difference here is the subject matter. In 2015, Elverum\u0092’s wife, the French Canadian cartoonist and musician Genevi\u00e8ve Castr\u00e9e, was diagnosed with a bad cancer just after giving birth to their first child. She died a year later.\u00a0 Elverum wrote and recored the album throughout the fall of 2016 in the same room where Genevi\u00e8ve died, using mostly her instruments; her guitar, her bass, her pick, her amp, her old family accordion, writing the words on her paper.<\/p>\n
The songs are about the brutal details of that experience, from the hospitalizations to the grieving, the specific domestic banalities that become existential in the context of such huge and abrupt loss.\u00a0 These songs are not fun.\u00a0 They are pretty and they are deep, and they find a love that prevails beneath the overwhelming andreal sorrow.\u00a0 It is unlike anything else in the Mount Eerie catalog in its unvarnished expressions of personal grief, metaphor-free.<\/p>\n
The writing draws inspiration from Karl Ove Knausgaard, Julie Doiron, Gary Snyder, Sun Kil Moon, and Joanne Kyger (whose poem \u0093Night Palace\u0094 is on the album\u0092s cover).\u00a0 The sound was influenced by the spare production of the 1996 Will Oldham album \u0093Arise Therefore\u0094.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mount Eerie\u0092’s Phil Elverum will play songs from ‘A Crow Looked At Me’ across\u00a0the East Coast of North America this September. The album is one […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[23,25,28,30],"tags":[3880,6294,5888,1245],"class_list":["post-25696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indie","category-live","category-music","category-new-release","tag-east-coast","tag-mount-eerie","tag-phil-elverum","tag-tour-dates"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Mount-Eerie-by-Phil-Elverum_zpsw0obf3dh.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2B2TV-6Gs","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24408,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=24408","url_meta":{"origin":25696,"position":0},"title":"Mount Eerie shares ‘Ravens’ video","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"February 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Mount Eerie, songwriter Phil Elverum, has shared a video for \u0093Ravens,\u0094 the second single from the upcoming album 'A Crow Looked At Me,' written and recorded in the wake of the death of Elverum'\u0092s wife\u00a0Genevi\u00e8ve\u00a0Castr\u00e9e. The video was directed by Elverum and created using footage shot by himself and Castr\u00e9e\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "indie"","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mount Eerie by Genevieve Elverum","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Mount-Eerie-by-Genevieve-Elverum_zpsjb9n17a8.jpg?fit=1024%2C987&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Mount-Eerie-by-Genevieve-Elverum_zpsjb9n17a8.jpg?fit=1024%2C987&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Mount-Eerie-by-Genevieve-Elverum_zpsjb9n17a8.jpg?fit=1024%2C987&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Mount-Eerie-by-Genevieve-Elverum_zpsjb9n17a8.jpg?fit=1024%2C987&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27892,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=27892","url_meta":{"origin":25696,"position":1},"title":"Mount Eerie announces new album ‘Now Only’","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"January 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Mount Eerie aka Phil Elverum has announced his latest album 'Now Only,' out March 16th via P.W. Elverum & Sun. The album follows the widely acclaimed 'A Crow Looked At Me,' a raw and affecting album about the death of Elverum\u0092's wife, artist and musician Genevi\u00e8ve Castr\u00e9e. 'A Crow Looked\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "indie"","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mount Eerie","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/gTP6IGs.jpg?fit=1075%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/gTP6IGs.jpg?fit=1075%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/gTP6IGs.jpg?fit=1075%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/gTP6IGs.jpg?fit=1075%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/gTP6IGs.jpg?fit=1075%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28550,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=28550","url_meta":{"origin":25696,"position":2},"title":"Stream Mount Eerie’s new album ‘Now Only’","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"March 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Mount Eerie\u0092's new album 'Now Only' is streaming now via NPR First Listen. The anticipated follow-up to last year\u0092's amazing 'A Crow Looked At Me' was written during the period immediately following its predecessor\u0092s release, as Mount Eerie\u0092's Phil Elverum was beginning to play those songs in front of audiences.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "indie"","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/5yBGe4e-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24320,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=24320","url_meta":{"origin":25696,"position":3},"title":"Mount Eerie announces new album ‘A Crow Looked At Me’+ shares ‘Real Death’","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"January 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Mount Eerie has announced the details of their new album,\u00a0'A Crow Looked At Me,'\u00a0which\u00a0will be released via\u00a0P.W. Elverum & Sun on March 24th\u00a02017. The album is a deeply personal and honest reaction to the death of Phil Elverum'\u0092s wife, the artist\u00a0Genevi\u00e8ve\u00a0Castr\u00e9e, last year. He has shared \u0093Real Death,\u0094 a candid\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "indie"","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mount Eerie","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Mount-Eerie-by-Allyson-Foster_zpss3pyn2zu.jpg?fit=1024%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Mount-Eerie-by-Allyson-Foster_zpss3pyn2zu.jpg?fit=1024%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Mount-Eerie-by-Allyson-Foster_zpss3pyn2zu.jpg?fit=1024%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Mount-Eerie-by-Allyson-Foster_zpss3pyn2zu.jpg?fit=1024%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4199,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=4199","url_meta":{"origin":25696,"position":4},"title":"Mount Eerie reveals new track ‘Ocean Roar’ from upcoming album","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"August 19, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Mount Eerie has revealed the title from his latest album 'Ocean Roar,' which will be out on September 4th (Digital \/ LP) via P.W. Elverum and Sun. This album is the dark counterpart to 'Clear Moon,' which was released earlier in 2012. Listen to Mount Eerie's track Ocean Roar\u00a0below via\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "indie"","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mount Eerie","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/mount-eerie.jpg?fit=800%2C531&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/mount-eerie.jpg?fit=800%2C531&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/mount-eerie.jpg?fit=800%2C531&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/mount-eerie.jpg?fit=800%2C531&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12006,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=12006","url_meta":{"origin":25696,"position":5},"title":"Mount Eerie share first single + video for ‘THIS’ from forthcoming album","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"January 13, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Mount Eerie have shared THIS, the first official single & video lifted from their forthcoming album\u00a0'Sauna'.\u00a0Watch it below via YouTube. [youtube_sc url=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L5Jp0-lVvrw\" theme=\"light\"] More about 'Sauna'? Mount Eerie has announced their\u00a0new full-length album titled \u00a0'Sauna,' which is due out via\u00a0P.W. Elverum & Sun on\u00a0February 3. \"Vikings and zen and real\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "indie"","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mount Eerie","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Mount-Eerie.png?fit=800%2C425&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Mount-Eerie.png?fit=800%2C425&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Mount-Eerie.png?fit=800%2C425&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Mount-Eerie.png?fit=800%2C425&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25696"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25696\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25698,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25696\/revisions\/25698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Mount](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Mount-Eerie-by-Phil-Elverum_zpsw0obf3dh.jpg?resize=1024%2C680\")
Mount Eerie\u0092’s Phil Elverum will play songs from ‘A Crow Looked At Me’ across\u00a0the East Coast of North America this September. The album is one of the year\u0092’s most acclaimed releases, being praised for its nuanced and brutally honest portrayals of grief following the death of his wife Genevi\u00e8ve\u00a0Castr\u00e9e. Elverum will perform in concert halls, churches, and theaters, presenting the songs unadorned, just his guitar and voice, and will also be performing new material. ‘A Crow Looked At Me’ is out now via\u00a0P.W. Elverum & Sun.<\/p>\n