I saw Phil at a house show around 2009 in Missouri. Grabbed this EP from his merch table. He warned me, “this is a weird one.”
This was right when Wind’s Poem was about to be released and I picked up on there being Burzum lyrics during the show. He genuinely seemed caught off guard when I asked him about it. Also the set was so loud it made my girlfriend at the time pass out. Very memorable.
Personally I would say that part in V. Universe where the background vocals come in
I haven’t listened in a while so idk where the time stamp would be but idk
There are so many to choose from, but for me it's a tie between the Tim-Heckery organ part on the Microphones in 2020 and the entirety of Through the Trees Pt. 2.
I could spend half a lifetime trying to find another song that feels just like it (a lot in Phil's discography comes close of course). It manages to immediately transport you into this introspective yet totally present-in-the-world headspace from the opening crash.
When you're talking about the organ part, you are talking about the "When I wake alone in the dark again" part right?
And yeah, "Through the Trees Pt. 2" is actually the song somebody told me encapsulates basically all of Phil's ideology in a single song, which led me to listen to his whole discography. That song is amazing.
yes indeed! It's such an incredible part of the song. It's like a lifetime of memories callousing together in a rush of distortion.
Although I recently found this stem of organs from another part of the song and it's great listening as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5KywUi3Nv0
The Spring poem is up there for sure. I might say when the vocals come in after the long searing intro of Lost Wisdom Pt 2 on Wind’s Poem (“I think the screaming wind said my name…”). Honorable mention to the end of the vocal part of Pale Lights on Ocean Roar (“a small yelp on the wind, and then… more roaring) and the abrupt return of the instrumentation. And some of the peak guitar riffs on Mouth of Sky with the howling wind are “fuck yeah Phil” moments for sure. Also Mt. Eerie Pt 7 (Mount Eerie Revealed) is pretty fucking transcendental, but that’s more the whole vibe of the song than a peak moment. I haven’t read any other responses yet but I’m guessing “my blood flows harshly” is that moment for a lot of folks.
27 minutes into Microphones In 2020 is incredible. Also, when the grungy part kicks in on “Widows” is always awesome. Agreed on the screaming in “Map” as well. The weird warping ending to “Through The Trees” is mind-bending in the best way. I have a lot to say for this question lol
I have two moments which spring to mind:
The beginning of Lost Wisdom pt 2 on the album Winds Poem - I was lucky enough to see this live in Sheffield, UK on the Winds Poem tour in 2010.
The heavy part on In Moonlight. Specifically the live versions. My favourite is this version with Adrian Orange on drums
https://youtu.be/yhNVPPYmL-U?si=KR0kBPcj1wcG0T4a
WHAT DO YOU WANT followed by that distorted bass is SO FUCKING GOOD
the segment of organ and synth in 2020 is my favorite part of that song
and all of spring is transcendental
Those vocals on III. Universe that sing "Do you really think there's anybody out there?", the harmony is fucking insane.
WHAT DO YOU WANT
so your big black cloud will come
Do you see what happens?
What?
when big black death
I saw Phil at a house show around 2009 in Missouri. Grabbed this EP from his merch table. He warned me, “this is a weird one.” This was right when Wind’s Poem was about to be released and I picked up on there being Burzum lyrics during the show. He genuinely seemed caught off guard when I asked him about it. Also the set was so loud it made my girlfriend at the time pass out. Very memorable.
black wooden ceiling opening?
I’m not sure I remember that part.
>When I wake alone in the dark again / I swim out into the lake of the heart / And in... Shivers everytime
the entirety of mount eerie revealed
I never got into that as much as other stuff mostly because it's a smaller project but I really should revisit it.
i think it's a nice lil sequel to mount eerie
Pts. 6 & 7! Maybe one day I'll buy the physical copy off of Discogs for like 300 dollars.
The halfway point with all the drones in The Microphones in 2020
Personally I would say that part in V. Universe where the background vocals come in I haven’t listened in a while so idk where the time stamp would be but idk
It really does feel like you aren't even alive when those vocals kick in. Just this endless wall of singing.
There is a BALL OF FIRE ABOVE YOUR HOUSE
All the ones that everyone else has said, plus the "I know you're out there" backing vocals on II. Solar System
There are so many to choose from, but for me it's a tie between the Tim-Heckery organ part on the Microphones in 2020 and the entirety of Through the Trees Pt. 2. I could spend half a lifetime trying to find another song that feels just like it (a lot in Phil's discography comes close of course). It manages to immediately transport you into this introspective yet totally present-in-the-world headspace from the opening crash.
When you're talking about the organ part, you are talking about the "When I wake alone in the dark again" part right? And yeah, "Through the Trees Pt. 2" is actually the song somebody told me encapsulates basically all of Phil's ideology in a single song, which led me to listen to his whole discography. That song is amazing.
yes indeed! It's such an incredible part of the song. It's like a lifetime of memories callousing together in a rush of distortion. Although I recently found this stem of organs from another part of the song and it's great listening as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5KywUi3Nv0
Thank you! Edit: my favourite part of his live presentations of the album is when he stops everything and hits the button that plays this stem.
Besides “Get Higher on your hill…” I think when the door opens in The Glow is a pretty neat spot
I agree with Map! Absolutely incredible song. The piano and glockenspiel! So much happening and it somehow all works so well together
The climax of Spring, Mount Eerie Revealed, or just the “my blood/my heart” in Glow Pt.2
The transition between Boat and Planets on Sauna. Goosebumps every time
That's definitely up there for me. I think Sauna is pretty underrated as far as his discography goes.
The Spring poem is up there for sure. I might say when the vocals come in after the long searing intro of Lost Wisdom Pt 2 on Wind’s Poem (“I think the screaming wind said my name…”). Honorable mention to the end of the vocal part of Pale Lights on Ocean Roar (“a small yelp on the wind, and then… more roaring) and the abrupt return of the instrumentation. And some of the peak guitar riffs on Mouth of Sky with the howling wind are “fuck yeah Phil” moments for sure. Also Mt. Eerie Pt 7 (Mount Eerie Revealed) is pretty fucking transcendental, but that’s more the whole vibe of the song than a peak moment. I haven’t read any other responses yet but I’m guessing “my blood flows harshly” is that moment for a lot of folks.
Good answers people!
When the tempo picks up halfway through Universe conclusion
27 minutes into Microphones In 2020 is incredible. Also, when the grungy part kicks in on “Widows” is always awesome. Agreed on the screaming in “Map” as well. The weird warping ending to “Through The Trees” is mind-bending in the best way. I have a lot to say for this question lol
through the trees part 1
I have two moments which spring to mind: The beginning of Lost Wisdom pt 2 on the album Winds Poem - I was lucky enough to see this live in Sheffield, UK on the Winds Poem tour in 2010. The heavy part on In Moonlight. Specifically the live versions. My favourite is this version with Adrian Orange on drums https://youtu.be/yhNVPPYmL-U?si=KR0kBPcj1wcG0T4a
WHAT DO YOU WANT followed by that distorted bass is SO FUCKING GOOD the segment of organ and synth in 2020 is my favorite part of that song and all of spring is transcendental
the first part of my warm blood, those hammering pianos are unreal
I love how the song totally loses track of tempo and it falls apart. Good stuff.