Exactly one month from today, Phil Elverum will make his long-awaited return as Mount Eerie with Night Palace, his first album in five years. This ambitious project consists of 26 tracks, including the previously released “I Walk” and “Broom Of Wind.” Today, Elverum has shared another new track titled “I Saw Another Bird.”
For those familiar with Elverum’s 2017 album A Crow Looked At Me, the title of this latest song might bring back memories of that deeply emotional project. In fact, the connection is intentional. In a press release, Elverum explained, “Behind the dry smirk of the title (sequelling out from A Crow Looked At Me) there are huge feelings that get opened.” He reflects on the contrast between our small, everyday existence and the profound, often elusive forces around us: “We are ridiculous little people toiling on the ground, but the sublime darts around above us always. We can pause, chill, and resume the conversation with the big unknown.” He describes the song as an exploration of these themes, delivered with a toe-tapping energy.
Musically, “I Saw Another Bird” features a catchy guitar rhythm that propels the song forward, eventually giving way to a burst of fuzzy distortion. Elverum’s introspective lyrics capture a sense of disorientation, as he sings, “I can’t remember having crossed a threshold / Between the dust and the alive.” The song’s blend of lightheartedness and depth, combined with its upbeat tempo, creates a unique contrast that fans of Elverum’s work will recognize. You can watch the lyric video for the track below.
English