Music Reviews

“microphones”

The Microphones

Tests

Elsinor

The sound and feel of this makes me want to say these are home recordings, even when the insert plainly says “recorded at Dub Narcotic & the Business.” Phil Elvrum is responsible for the songs and I would say he did it all himself if there weren’t an extensive list of people who helped him out. Nonetheless, that’s the vibe I get from this – bedroom pop written and recorded on whatever’s handy by someone just filled with the need to get their songs down on tape. Lo-fi but still sounding good, there are songs that have their quirks (“Monsters”) and songs that just shimmer with goodness (“Oh Anna”). A diverse collection of sounds – here’s some fuzziness, there some sparseness, some great yet annoying electronic tones – tied together by a love for recording equipment (songs like “Tests” and “PreAmp”) and honest melody.

Elsinor, P.O. Box 5463, Bellingham, WA 98227; elsinor@earthlink.net


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