White Stag

White Stag is a 10-track EP conceived by writer Matthew Stadler and recorded by Phil Elverum during a week-long residency at the White Stag building in Portland, Oregon, from March 30 to April 6, 2009. Using only a Marshall amplifier and a 4-track analogue tape recorder, Elverum captured the physical resonance of the building, integrating site-specific field recordings and room tone directly into the arrangements. Rather than presenting a factual history, Elverum constructed a 'fake history' that explores the mythology of the building, touching on themes of historical oppression, memory, and wealth disparity. The album was originally released in a highly limited CD-R run packaged with graduate students, making it one of the most elusive and sought-after entries in the Mount Eerie catalog.