Released
1998
Label
Map Records
Reviewed by
Kim Alexander
Contact
Email:
Map Records
Snail Mail:
1027 Davie Street #608
Vancouver BC Canada
V6E 4L2
Fax: 604.602.1038
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Last Edit/Update
30 May, 1998
Phil Western
The Escapist
Track Listing
1. Hampi
2. No Help
3. Pleasures Gained
4. Last Moments
5. Maruti
6. Poison
7. Flashback
8. Mourning
9. I No Really
10. Sun Is Round
11. Kent The Fly
12. Full Moon
13. Getting Old
14. Stay Clean
"The Escapist" is the long-awaited solo debut of one of Canada's most
prolific and enigmatic producers. The musical career of PHIL WESTERN has
stretched from one end of the electronic spectrum to the other, and includes
membership in world-renowned acts DOWNLOAD (Nettwerk), OFF AND
GONE (Harthouse/Eye Q's only North American signing), and FLOATPOINT
(ESP/Sun). He has also contributed his talents to numerous successful
releases, including drums and percussion on the TRANQUILITY BASS album
"Let The Freak Flag Fly" and keyboards on SKINNY PUPPY's final release
"Process." As a member of the SUBCONSCIOUS collective, he played a
major role in their superb collaborative releases "Paradigm Shift" and
"Plateau." Phil's solo output includes tracks on compilations such as
"Welcome To Lotus Land" (Map), "Pacific Rhythm" (Harthouse),
"Trance
Atlantic Highways" (ESP), and countless others (see below for complete
discography). Since signing with hometown label Map Records last summer,
Phil has been writing and recording new material for what will surely be one of
the most stunning records of 1998.
Due to Phil's eclectic influences,
his collaborations with some of North
America's finest producers and musicians, and his ever-expanding perspective
encouraged by his yearly sabbaticals to Asia, Phil's first solo album is one of
amazing imagination. Electronics, heavy effects, live drums, bass, guitars,
ethnic percussion, treated samples, ethereal vocals, psychedelic textures: all
are mutated and fused with an emotionally-charged cohesion seldom
experienced. "The Escapist" continues Map Records' mandate of unbridled
eclecticism and rhythmic diversity, upsetting the mainstream's obsession with
genrefication. If music can take the listener on a cerebral sonic journey, then
"The Escapist" will be your passport to weird and wonderful places."
--Map Records
Phil
Western's iconoclastic sounds in music have once again been unleashed with The
Escapist, a self-perpetuating voyage onto dark winding synthways, intermittent jazzy
percussion and guitar and beautifully orchestrated harmonics. The changes from track to
track are very diverse with Phil's use of voice, keys, guitar and drums which
range from organics to synth beats and occultish acid drones. Michael Louw
includes moments of flute, ukelele, violin and percussion on various tracks. Dan
Handrabur includes even more intricate movements on violin, with Barb Kennedy
on vocals, while bassonics and guitar are done by Chris Hill. As stated inside
the cover sleeve, which is laden with a variety of cultural photos of people by Philth,
and one of D.R. Goettel, this release is for Richard, Charles, Greg,
and Dwayne. A couple of the tracks are somewhat reminescent of what I would
consider works that Duck would have enjoyed, fast hard-hitting techno-edge electronica as
in No Help, Maruti, and Flashback.
One of the most interesting
tracks on the release is I No Really -- laden with vocals of two men, and a woman
who are apparently conducting an operation and shock treatments on a woman. From what I
can understand, it's brain surgery. As the song progresses, (and it is very progressive
and excellent!), the men keep asking this woman in surgery if she's "feeling anything
now?, feeling anything now?" to which she says "no, just a little
pressure", and among other things, "I...no...really". They continue to ask
her "Lynn, what's your name?", to which she finally says after asked repeatedly,
"Lynn", then on to "do you know where you are?", to which she says,
"At the operation." , and they chime in, "That's Right!" as if they
were talking to a two year old. To that, the mans voice ends up saying, "That's
unusual, I don't think I've ever simulated a seizure before.", and you hear gurgling
sounds and other twisted synths, excellent percussion and a sick sense of guitar in the
background, all the while the woman being "treated?" is trying to make them
understand she (thinks) knows the answers to their simple questioning by stating,
"I....no.....really." Great track, but scary if you take the time to actually
hear what is going on with the vocals/samples.
Sun Is Round brings
out more guitar effects, and percussion that keeps you hanging on for the next change in
tempo, and synth timbre. (The lyrics are printed on the liner.) Kent The Fly is
another excellent piece A capella, percussion, loops of what sounds like basssonics? and
ends with a techno solo beat, which smooths its way into Full Moon, a [Eastern type
of] culturally swirling instrumental work, quirky, synthy, fast paced and mello, with Barb
Kennedy (I believe), on sweet and temptuous angelic vocals, good dance song, on the
techno-tribal edge lasting over twelve minutes.
Overall this is an excellent
quality CD in both composition, engineering and sound -- one you won't want to miss. The
Escapist surpasses a number of releases I have heard in the past year in the same
associated veins of sound. Get it soon before is escapes the racks at the cd shop nearest
you, or order from your favourite online company.
