Phil Moore, who leads the various incarnations of Bowerbirds along with Beth Tacular, talks about the making of Upper Air.
INDEPENDENT WEEKLY: What was the most challenging aspect of finishing Upper Air?
PHIL MOORE: There were several hurdles to get over as we tried to finish up our album. One, and by far not the most difficult hurdle, was not having a real home.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of finishing Upper Air, be it musical or through opportunities it’s afforded your band?
Hearing the songs in their full regalia was the absolute prize for me. Some of the songs we had tried to perform in various ways never became fully realized until we could step back and hear them on a stereo. It was very relieving to enjoy them even more than I thought I would.
If you could change one thing about the record, what would it be?
I would have enjoyed doing more live tracking and having more time and money to do so. And more tube preamps!
What’s something about the record you find interesting that no one’s pointed out?
It was recorded on Garage Band, and to the trained ear, it sounds like it.
Try to limit yourself to one answer: What’s your favorite local album of 2009, other than the one you made?
I’m going to have to go with 15 Songs by Wes Phillipsmost phenomenal group of songs I have heard in a long time. I tried to limit myself to one, but also, the one that sticks in my head the most and took me by surprise is Max Indian’s record. [Editor’s note: Said album was technically released in 2008, but very late in the year.] Sweet jams. Oops: Midtown Dickens, Megafaun, sorry, such good music here in the Triangle.
