Review: ‘The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel’ Brings Fans Into the Band’s Inner World
DISSOLVING THE BARRIERS OF DREAMS AND REALITY — Neutral Milk Hotel fluidly transcends space and time. Nearly 25 years after the band’s first released album and the musical craftsmanship of the perplexing Jeff Mangum as Neutral Milk Hotel still stands as a focal point of the ’90s psychedelic folk scene. On Feb. 24, Merge Records is set to release a new special box set, The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel. This limited edition collection includes nearly all of the band’s recorded output collected by Mangum, including the two full-length records, On Avery Island (1996) and In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998). Unique live recordings, alternate takes, and time stamps are featured as well, opening the inner world of Neutral Milk Hotel to listeners in a newly intimate way.
The discography of Neutral Milk Hotel brings to life the complexities of the human experience with a visceral sincerity. The group, formed in Ruston, Louisiana and having begun in the late ’80s, recently shared demo versions of “You’ve Passed” and “Where You’ll Find Me Now,” this February in anticipation of the upcoming archival. The extended version of their 1994 EP, Everything Is, includes newly added songs “Here We Are (For W. Cullen Hart),” “Interlude,” and “Unborn.”
Famous recluse and prodigal musical genius Mangum brings his dream states and interior realm to life with self-described “fuzz-folk” style. Meshing indie and alternative rock with experimental pop sensibilities, the songs of Neutral Milk Hotel are otherworldly. With eclectic assemblages of saw, pipes, accordion, and banjo tape collages, the so-called “zanzithophone” sonic dimensions explore different phases of American music. The mesmeric instrumentation is matched with the group’s distinctively metaphorical lyricism. The Collected Works takes listeners on a journey through time, as voice is given to all the quirks and curiosities of youth, coming-of-age, and awakening to the world. Mangum draws inspiration from a number of interesting and unconventional sources, but most notably his dreams.
He spoke on these influences in a 1997 interview with Pitchfork, saying, “I’m very influenced by the circus. A lot of the dreams that I have, I’m in the circus. I have this song called ‘Ferris Wheel on Fire,’ and in the dreams a lot of times I’ll be walking around and there is this Ferris wheel in flames, and I’m on the ground walking through the crowd — a lot of the songs are influenced by my dreams. And where my dreams come from, I have no idea. When I was a kid, the bed used to feel like concrete, and I always had this dream where this bomb was rolling towards me, and everything was moving really incredibly fast, but it would never reach me. And I’d wake up, and my hands would feel totally enormous, and the bed would feel like concrete.”
The Collected Works begins its journey with In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, which (speaking of unconventional sources) was famously inspired by The Diary of Anne Frank, particularly the song “Oh Comely.” The record, though vibrantly eccentric, contemplates religion, sex, death, complicated family dynamics, and love, of course. The artist’s passion for DIY punk and underground tape trading is melodiously expressed through the immersive experience that The Collected Works offers. Following with On Avery Island, the distinctive shoegaze, fuzzy grit is utilized alongside the at times agonized and amused voice of Mangum.
Like a preacher to a parish or circus performer to an eager audience, Mangum’s work rings with a certain truth and mystery to be uncovered by the listener. And while it’s up for debate whether the genius will ever pick his guitar back up for a current-day noise-rock revival, The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel provides a sentimental salvation of the group to be savored for years to come.
Pre-order The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel
Cited:
McGonigal, Mike. “Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeff Mangum Talks About In the Aeroplane Over the Sea in This Archival Interview.” Pitchfork. 11 Feb. 2008. https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/7471-neutral-milk-hotel/
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