The Mining Co – Phenomenology
Pindrop Records – 1 October 2021
When an artist changes course, the first thing one wonders is whether this is a one-time occurrence or a seismic shift. For The Mining Co., the question seems more than a bit pointless; Phenomenology is a unique experience. What it portends for the future will have to wait for a later date. The real question is, what do we have here? The answer is something more than a bit different and most definitely something very special.
Michael Gallagher, Londoner by way of Ireland, has been known for his dusty, rootsy take on folk music, yet his latest effort finds him exploring territory far off his beaten track. Phenomenology is a foray into frontiers unimaginable, a science-fiction byway based on John Carpenter’s cult film “Dark Star.” Telling the tale of Talby, witness to intergalactic stories played out through time. He observes Earthly occurrences and reoccurrences in a land he left hundreds of years ago.
Instead of guitars, Gallagher transfers to an electronic realm, augmenting the occasional electric or acoustic guitar with an array of keyboards and synths. Yet, at its heart, this is still an album by The Mining Co., just one that tracks a bit differently. A fan of Eels and Magnetic Fields, he finds a way to merge this new approach in a way that makes it feel like a logical step even while he departs from virtually everything we’ve come to expect from him.
Instead of a vast new spacescape, a synthetic world exists that seems to fit very well within the framework of The Mining Co. A perfect example is “Unexpected,” where a single synth frames his voice as he sings of love, yet this is love in the ruins. The chorus plays out simply, “Oh unexpected/ unexpected love.” What makes the song so fascinating is the way the chorus unfolds against images of untold destruction. The juxtapositions hold you in their thrall.
Voices change from song to song as Gallagher attempts to portray the shifting characters who narrate different songs. At the same time, the keyboards seem in many ways to harken back to some of the kinds of synthesis David Bowie used as far back as “Memory of a Free Festival.” The interplay is never less than fascinating. “Beatify” flows in on waves of keyboards before ending on a repeating riff that sounds like a computerized take on a scratched record, creating the perfect ending for this cosmic ride through space and time.
Rather than a shift as big as the constellations, what Gallagher has done is create a tone befitting the nature of this material. While completely different from previous albums by The Mining Co., Phenomenology actually seems to fit very well within the framework he has created. It is not exploration simply for the sake of it. Instead, it is the sound of a musician seeking to stretch beyond the bounds of expectation. The Mining Co. is taking journeys into the unknown, which is the best that can be said of any artist.
Phenomenology is out now on Pindrop Records. Order via Bandcamp: https://theminingco.bandcamp.com/album/phenomenology
Photo Credit: Pablo Errea