Mount Eerie - Wind's Poem (2009)

I'm going to start right off the bat by saying that this record is Phil Elverum's best work since 2001's The Glow Pt. 2. I know. Big words, right? This isn't a "Phil's getting back to his roots" sort of thing, the two records sound nothing alike. He just happened to make one of the best headphones records ever. Trust me on this one, if you play it through speakers, you'll miss little nuances and do a disservice to both yourself and the record. Back in 2009, Phil got REALLY into black metal and decided to make a black metal album of his very own. Don't worry, you're not going to get a Venom record here. It's got slow-moving, gradual synths and droned guitar tones while still retaining the vocals that long time listeners of The Microphones/Mount Eerie cherish so dearly.

Music nerd trivia: "Between Two Mysteries" includes elements of "Twin Peaks Theme" by Angelo Badalementi.

Music nerd trivia (cont.): A section of lyrics from the track "Stone's Ode" were taken from the Burzum song, "Dunkelheit" (Varg Vikernes is still an asshole, though.)

For fans of: The Microphones, Thanksgiving, Xasthur

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Geotic - Bless the Self (2011)

This one is a thing of quiet, simple beauty. While on tour, Will Wiesenfeld (Baths) made this most recent record under the Geotic moniker. Heard throughout this ethereal record are pieces of "Wind II," a field recording made at 2:00 AM of the Santa Ana winds outside his California home. This record doesn't ask anything of you, and it never will... But it's there for you. Lie down, get a pair of headphones and drift off into this one, friends.

For fans of: Dntel, Baths, Chris Zabriskie

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