Phideaux - Fiendish

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Bloodfish Music
Catalog Number: ZYZ1001
Format: CD
Total Time: 44:56:00

Phideaux's 2004 release Fiendish is deceptively mellow. Overall there is a leisurely pace to most of the album's 11 tracks. What's deceptive about it is that the instrumentation is often quite dynamic -- at times rough and distorted ("Fragment"), at other times just making strong statements, and yet at other times going at a frenetic pace. And yet, still seeming relaxed and unhurried.

Phideaux is Phideaux Xavier on vocals, keyboards of various types (including synths and mellotron), guitars, autoharp, etc., joined by an array of other musicians on various tracks, although there are several names that appear on many tracks, like Richard J Hutchins, who plays drums on nearly every track, and Kramer and Julie Hair who trade off bass duties on most tracks.

To give you some reminds-me-of impressions -- most often I thought of Guy Manning (especially on the angelic "Hellphone"); perhaps it's the singer-songwriter thing, the use of acoustic guitar in the mix, perhaps it's how the close mic'd vocals lend the same sort of intimacy that Manning's work often has. It's actually a mix of all three. And add in some 60s folk-rock vibe (most notably in "100 mg") with the harmonized vocals and feel-good hippy like vocal delivery. This latter aspect, in "100 Coda," sounds like late-period Beatles, a little psychedelic. For that matter, the very next track, "Little Monster," also sounds Beatle-esque, a bit closer to the Lennon side. And the opening piano of "Space Brother," the last track, recalls "Let It Be." In the short bio on Phideaux's website, Lennon (as well as Alice Cooper) is mentioned as an early influence.

On the other hand, the opening track "Fragment" made me think of RPWL - a certain dreamy feel to the vocals as employed on World Through My Eyes , although when Phideaux gets a bit throatier, it's of Manning I think. In certain respects "Headstones" reminds me of something by Simon and Garfunkel - specifically, "Homeward Bound" comes to mind, mostly in Phideaux's vocal cadences, but also in the harmonized lead vocals and the sparse arrangement of guitar and percussion.

But even as the 60s aspect might suggest something upbeat, or at least blissful, instead the lyrics are dark, full of isolation, despair, loneliness, death... The title track, "Fiendish" is darkly sad, perhaps owing to the sorrowful violin that opens the piece, the almost funeral percussion (although, soon, it brightens with an old-world feel).

And yet, Fiendish, the album, is all rendered so lovely. The delicate guitar phrases, the haunting female vocals that grace various songs, Phideaux's own understated, but warm, delivery, all make for a beautifully tragic album. It's all so appealing, drawing you in - whether it rocks, in as much as Phideaux rocks here ("Little Monster") - or floats creepily about you ("Soundblast").

Tracklisting:
Fragment (4:12) / Animal Games (3:30) / 100 Mg (3:12) / 100 Coda (2:24) / Hellphone (2:10) / Little Monster (5:12) / Headstones (4:15) / Fiendish (2:59) / Vultures & Mosquitoes (4:18) / Soundblast (7:17) / Space Brother (5:23)

Musicians:
Phideaux Xavier - vocals, piano, guitar, mellotron, synthesizer, autoharp, organ
Ariel Farber - vocals (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 0)
Valarie Gracious - vocals (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8)
Richard J Hutchins - drums
Gabriel Moffat - funeral water, sonar (1); space guitar, funeral voices, space beeps (11)
Neil Citron - fretless bass, backwards messages (5)
D.J. Demigod - sound design (2, 3, 4)
Stefanie Fife - cello (8)
David Gervai - digital stretching treatments, harmonizer (3, 8)
Will Guterman - vocals (3, 5)
Julie Hair - bass (2, 3, 4, 7)
Mizue Kidd - vocals (5, 10)
Kramer - bass, organ, fuzz bass, harpsichord, baritone & noise guitar, electric piano, high voice, echo (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10)
Tess Kramer - narration, vocals, countdown (6, 10)
Sydney Moffat - vocals (6)
Kelci Moffat - "one" (11)
Catherine Nance - "Hello?" (5)
Armen Ra - theremin (10)

Discography:
Fiendish (2003)
Ghost Story (2004)
Chupacabras (2005)
313 (2005)
The Great Leap (2006)
Doomsday Afternoon (2007)
Number Seven (2009)
7½ (2009)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: February 14th 2011
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.bloodfish.com
Hits: 3537
Language: english