This is the place to discuss the Elephant 6 Recording Co., a loose collection of bands that includes Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, the Apples in Stereo, Elf Power, Beulah, the Minders, Of Montreal, the Gerbils, and the Music Tapes. Zanzithophones, alien television sets, fuzzed-out Beach Boys homages, labyrinthine concept albums, and accordion solos that can make you cry... you can find them all in the realm of Elephant 6.20 responses total.
So, a few questions:
I'm under the impression that many of the groups collaborate
frequently and/or share members, but to what extent is there
an "Elephant 6" sound? How much do the groups have in common?
If someone wanted to check out the work comming out of the
collective, what would be a good (fairly accessible) place to start?
In a review of an Olivia Tremor Control show, I wrote that the E6 sound "is primarily characterized by a strong streak of old-school psychedelia, oddball instrumentation, and the use of 4-tracks and home recording, which results in a sound which is engagingly scruffy without being truly lo-fi." I would add to that by noting that some bands (like Beulah, the Apples in Stereo, and the Minders) put much more emphasis on pop than psychedelia, but the 60's influence is always there. I would start with Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea." Most people seem to either love it or hate it - I find it to be one of the most intense, beautiful albums I've ever heard, but your mileage may vary.
All of a sudden, I've been hearing about E6 from, like, nine billion different directions. I think Someone Up There wants me to buy an album.
OK, I bought the Neutral Milk Hotel CD. Now I just need to find some CD player time for it.
I just read a review recently that described NMH's lead singer as possessing "a voice that could gut a hog." Be warned. :)
To hear a sample of Neutral Milk Hotel in MP# go to http://thing1.btc.gatech.edu/neutral/samples.html Sounds sort of like an old Incredible String Band album crossed with 80s post punk.
If anyone is interested in catching E6 bands live, the Minders and Elf Power are touring together (tour dates can be found at www.theminders.com and www.elfpower.com), and the Olivia Tremor Control - who put on a fantastic live show - will be touring next month (tour dates at www.autotonic.com). Unfortunately neither tour will be hitting Detroit. Bastards.
I got an mp3 of the song "The Aeroplane over the Sea" off the net. I like it esp the lyrics and the musical saw and trumpet.
not sure where else to post this... I wrote an article on E6 stalwarts Elf Power for Indiepop.com, a webzine based here in Portland. The article is sort of an intro for those unfamiliar with the band. It can be found at www.indiepop.com/vol003/elf.html
Hey Natalie you are in Oregon? Me too I live in Deadwood west of Eugene. Any recomendations of clubs to check out if I make it Portland? Ok so I drift, so sue me. :-)
I used to live in Salem. I wonder if they know what a club is?
I've only lived here a couple of months, so I don't know much about clubs... EJ's has, err, "atmosphere," but don't go unless there's a good band playing. The local weekly paper has lots of info about nightlife - www.wweek.com
After several months of thinking "I really should try one of those Elephant 6" bands, I bought Elf Power's "When the Red King Comes" on impulse the other day. So far I haven't warmed to it..
I haven't yet come around to liking Elf Power's "When the Red King Comes" but I was browsing in a West Seattle music store the other day and they were playing something I thought sounded pretty interesting, so I asked about it. Turned out to be "In the Aeroplane over the Sea", so I bought it (along with the Future Bible Heroes EP I'd come for..) After a few listens I quite like it.
Ah! A convert! :) re. Future Bible Heroes, maybe we should start a Stephin Merritt item...
I thought we could just take over all of the other active items with Stephin Merritt stuff.. ;-) (for example:) I wasn't thrilled by the Future Bible Heroes EP but I'm definitely looking forward to the 6ths album that's listed for release in September (the 6ths is a project where Merritt collaborates with other indie musicians -- they do the vocals and he writes the songs. Their first album, "Wasps Nests" is great, and I've got high hopes for the upcoming one "Hyacinths and Thistles".)
So have you picked up "Hyacinths and Thistles" yet? I'm tempted, but reluctant to sully my hands with anything that Momus (ugh) and Neil Hannon (double, triple ugh) are involved with. I might get the first 6ths album, though. To connect this with Elephant 6, Stephin Merritt's sometime cohort Brian Dewan did the lovely "flying Victrola" drawing inside the 2nd Neutral Milk Hotel album. QED.
Has it been released? I thought it was due later this month.. Definitely get the first 6ths album, it's chock full o' great songs..
Yeah, H&T has been released, and I have held it in my hands. Wish I coulda saw The 'Fields at Bumbershoot... :(
I didn't know they were playing Bumbershoot and I missed it! :( :(
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