Mykonos (song)


Mykonos is the third single from indie folk band Fleet Foxes, from their 2008 EP Sun Giant. It was released in the UK on January 27, 2009, by European label Bella Union; in the format of 7" vinyl as well as a digital download, and peaked at number 51 on the UK Singles Chart. The B-side is a live version of "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" from their debut album. On May 5, 2009, it was released in the U.S. on Seattle-based record label Sub Pop, with the song "False Knight On the Road" in place of "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song". An alternate version of the song, with a track length of 3:39, was released on the deluxe version of their debut album Fleet Foxes.

Track listing

All songs written by Robin Pecknold.
;UK version
;US version

Music video

A music video was made for "Mykonos", and was directed by Sean Pecknold, singer Robin Pecknold's brother. It is entirely animated and is described by Pitchfork.tv as:
"... video imagines a fluid universe filled with triangles, castles and barbershop mustaches. It's a little playful... and a little creepy."

It depicts a pair of small origami triangles on an adventure through a world made solely of paper. They begin, sliding and falling downwards, onto various objects and buildings which collapse shortly after. As this happens, an evil face appears in the background, whose eyes follow the triangles. Eventually, the triangles find a bird, upon whose back they ride above the clouds, only to fall again and end up in a dark forest filled with long, thin legs walking around. They then enter a flying machine, and encounter a tall figure, which they push over a cliff, to fall with it, watched by rows of eyes. As the song slows, they continue to fall, into a fortress in which the figures walk along high walkways. It appears to be the home of the face, which is promptly destroyed by the triangles, who flee the collapsing fortress. The song fades as the triangles sink into the sea.

Reception

Billboard magazine said that "the second half of 'Mykonos' is salvation for the ears". The New York Times said of the track that there are moments when "the band members' high, honeyed voices melded into an imperfect swell reminiscent of the kind of church choir John and Alan Lomax might have captured with their 500-pound recording machine."