Singer/Songwriters / poor :
Elephant Micah

CD (2005), CD (2008), EP (2008)








Bluesanct    Elephant Micah : Your dreams are beeding back (US,2005)**'

The booklet shows slightly chaotic handcrafted slovenly writings and collage, reminding me once more that the mentality of people nowadays is sloppier, and that it has become a fashion in general social behaviour. Just being a part of this environmental change doesn’t mean one cannot give it something meaningful with nicely sounding moody expressions, (like is done here).  Still it’s not easy for me to understand the not too well articulated expressions, with a post-Bonnie “Prince” Billie kind of sadness, no : even sadder. The mood is consistent but brings the listener rather down to either tiredness, closer to depression or at least to a very low energy level. The songs are accompanied neatly by a full band. Only some of these are more Americana styled. The kind of down direction mood on the album, with not much natural variation, makes it heavy stuff and difficult for me to listen. On tracks like "Immune to amusement" and "Where do songs ?" the band luckily rocks a bit, and the arrangements vary also somewhat, bringing in nice elements, like on the nicely arranged "Mt. Neil Young", or "Rapid Eyesight", but not much to compensate completely for a down and isolated feeling, for an 18 songs length CD. Never the less when one gives it some access time, it reveals something honest and "poor".

More audiofragments on CD Universe
Info : http://elephantmicah.com/
& http://www.bluesanct.com/cats/catalogue/descriptions/inri072.html
Other reviews : http://www.stayfun.co.uk/albums/elephantmicah-yourdreamsarefadingback.shtm
http://www.bettawreckonize.com/album_reviews/alrev_e.html#elemicahback
& http://www.digitalisindustries.com/foxyd/shortshome1128.html
& http://www.insound.com/annex/search.cfm?query=elephant
Interview : http://www.digitalisindustries.com/foxyd/elephant1.html
& http://www.revolutionblues.com/fmicah1.html
Time-Lag Rec.   Elephant Micah : Hindu Windmills (US,2007,re.2008)**'

It is strange to hear after the first release I have heard from Elephant Micah, that so many years later the lo-fi poor-man approach hasn’t tried to change to more clarity. The compositions consist of acoustic guitar playing, whispery introverted voice, double bass (1,5,..), and sparse additional piano, hand percussion, on a whispery, slightly hissing background, which is still acceptable enough for its recording quality result on CD, so that this background noise works only like a charming detail as if it was velvet pillows of soft noise. You realize more that this is a home tape recording because you hear the tape recorder being switched on and off now and then. The softness of singing comes at times close to the music of Rivulets, Vollmar or Great Lake Swimmers, but it is difficult for me to follow what it is all about. Each song sounds also quite similar, -a few times with a slight Nashville sound, or like with introverted alt country flavour (by adding a few vocal arrangements). The lyrics are included in handwriting of yellow ink on greyish paper, so it is impossible to read any of them, making them just like wrapping paper. The CD package is presented as a mini-LP CD version of the original, now sold-out vinyl edition. All this makes this work a bit more like a vague moody album of background slumbers.

Audio : http://www.juno.co.uk/...
Homepage : http://www.elephantmicah.com/
Label entry : http://www.time-lagrecords.com/catalog/index.php#elephmicah-cd
Other ordering page : http://www.lrrc.elephantmicah.com/catalogue.htm
Info : http://flippedoutrecords.stores.yahoo.net/elmihiwicdti.html
Interview : http://youcrazydreamers.com/category/artistband-interview/
Great Pop Supplement     Elephant Micah : Eguine Emblem -EP- (US,2008)***

This I think is the best I have heard from Elephant Micah so far, but it is so short! We hear a humming rocker intro by a lead theme on acoustic guitars, and accompanied by drums, with an additional distorted electric guitar layer part, which makes this simple theme sound a bit heavier in its second part. This is followed immediately hereafter by a short and sad acapella song. Side B continues with a song which is comparably sung –with soft and gentle voice-, accompanied by acoustic guitars pickings mostly, immediately followed by a well entertaining stomp-folk instrumental with pompom upright bass, banjo, guitar and dry fiddle. A promising sound for live acts.

Audio : "Return Of Gentle Rider", "Game Reserve", "A Harmony (With Horse)",
"Rocky Ripple Meltdown"  
Homepage : http://www.elephantmicah.com/
Label : http://www.greatpopsupplement.com/start.html
description : http://www.secondlayer.co.uk/index/p6522.htm
Description & reviews on http://www.phonicarecords.co.uk/detail.aspx?ID=32326
& http://www.normanrecords.com/records/103320
go back to the singer-songwriters index
or go back to poor minstrels review page
or go back to the general index