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Those familiar with indie artist Phil Elverum’s work in The Microphones and Mount Eerie might not consider him a fitting listen for Valentine’s Day. Whether he’s musing about breakups, using Zen philosophy to imagine a better world or bluntly relating grief, he often comes off as the exact opposite of affectionate listening.
But Elverum’s second studio album as The Microphones, “It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water,” contests these stereotypes. Released on Sept. 26, 2000, it’s the first and least talked about installment in his acclaimed trilogy, followed by the albums “The Glow Pt. 2” and “Mount Eerie.”
But where those records can be dismal and breakup-focused, “It Was Hot…” sees Elverum using water imagery and the presence of “the glow,” a metaphorical representation of attraction towards the person you love, to do the opposite.
Throughout the record, Elverum uses lo-fi recording techniques and a blend of slacker rock and psychedelic folk to weave this narrative of love together. Many tracks feature heavy panning, with vocals and instruments skewed towards the left or right channel — not unlike the 2009 stereo remasters of The Beatles’ music. Frequent backing vocal contributions from fellow musicians Khaela Maricich, Mirah and Jenn Kliese help lighten the mood, often sounding prettier and better mixed than the instruments.
In the opener, “The Pull,” Elverum describes himself as water vapor suspended in the air, watching his body decay below him. The lyrics are dissociative until Elverum gets breathed in by someone surrounded by the glow. While the track opens with straightforward acoustic guitar strumming, overbearing drums and electric guitar chords kick in when Elverum describes this mystical transition.
“Ice” follows up with the opposite sonic structure, starting off loud and cluttered. There’s some singsong call and response between Elverum and Maricich before the track settles down with a quieter guitar, gentle humming and peals from a xylophone. Elverum describes spending time with this person and how their presence staves off his sadness, ending by singing, “And now I’m thawing out while the fire you made grows.”
“Sand” and “Karl Blau,” the third and fifth tracks, are a couple of acoustic palate cleansers just under two minutes long. They don’t bear a direct connection to the overall narrative, as “Sand” is a cover of indie rock band Eric’s Trip, and “Karl Blau” is a tribute to Elverum’s friend and musician of the same name. Still, they’re both charming and stand out for their straightforwardness.
Between these two gentle tracks is “The Glow,” the 11-minute focal point of the album. Elverum starts with an acoustic narration of a metaphorical winter journey that leaves him “Buried in snow,” a representation of his unhappiness before meeting this person. Then “the glow,” voiced by Mirah, responds, promising warmth and shelter.
But four minutes in, an addictive drum pattern interrupts the tranquility — a bit of a jumpscare before Elverum and Mirah sing about finding one another. Elverum describes the process as “Being pulled out by the tide,” continuing the aquatic symbolism.
Once the vocals end, the slacker rock jam extends for a few more minutes, changing all the while. The audio slowly fades over time, making it sound like you’re listening with your head submerged by the end. In case the listener didn’t get the H2O memo, the sound of gently sloshing water creeps in as Elverum whispers a final verse about the experience.
“(Something),” the ninth track, is a standout, bearing a similar song structure to “The Pull” and “The Glow.” Not only is the slacker rock breakdown really groovy, but there’s also an appreciated elemental switch. Elverum shies away from water, adding in wind recordings and lyrics discussing “the blow” instead.
While the rest of the album’s second half is solid, it’s not as memorable as the first. Three of the six final tracks are mostly instrumentals, and the lyrics continue focusing on water, spending time with someone you love and the glow. It might feel underwhelming or repetitive on first listen, though it can grow on you over time.
“It Was Hot…” might not be the most conventional love album out there, but it’s still a pleasant use of 40 minutes. If you like lo-fi music, it might be worth a listen while waiting to start your Valentine’s Day plans with whoever embodies the glow in your life.
If you’re alone without plans for the weekend, well, there’s always “The Glow Pt. 2,” the sequel that explores what happens when the glow disappears, to keep you company.