Lost Wisdom - Mount Eerie w/ Julie Doiron and Frederick Squire
Title track/opener of the album. Isn't too short, sets a narrative and is a pretty powerful track without the use of many instruments.
Lets all get together, have a hug and listen to a break-up album.
Phil got lucky here and has managed to record with one of his musical idols in Julie Doiron and her collaborator, Frederick Squire. The album has the signature, soft guitar that Phil uses in some of his less experimental tracks and it’s one of the driving forces of the album. The album itself isn’t as experimental as any of the other Mount Eerie/Microphones albums either. Every track is a light, acoustic driven folk track. Julie’s voice is wonderful and layers the tracks with a certain femininity which acts as the yin to Phil’s ‘delicate man’ yang. The songs sound as if two lovers were singing to each-other and on the track Lost Wisdom itself, it’s done to great effect – setting up a narrative in the song. Some tracks sound happy, some sad. A lot of the themes are easily tied to failed relationships – ideas of leaving, abandonment and the questions asked in the wake of those actions are the basis for most of those songs, the main question being ‘what do I do now?’. I guess that’s the clever thing about Lost Wisdom is that most of the tracks encompass that idea itself.
Here’s my main criticism of the album – it’s far too short. Most songs, save the opening track, last for less than two minutes each. I think if anything what I like about the album come more from the minimalist approach, which seems that much better here rather than on the other mount eerie/microphones albums. No crazy effects, no intense drumming, yes Julie’s soft voice. It works. While it’s sad, it’s still a very pleasant listen for a cozy, sun drenched autumn afternoon on the porch.
