Wednesday 29 May 2013

Music - Part 85 - Phildel




Phildel – The Disappearance Of The Girl (Decca)
CD/DL
3 June 2013


Comparisons will be made – Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Grimes.  The plain and simple truth is that Phildel has a voice like no other.  Not only that but she writes and plays songs of quite startling quality.  You should know the story by now – her songs were picked up by several companies for their TV ads before she had even officially recorded a track, then her world exploded.  From Marks & Spencer to fashion shows, her songs are being played and you may not even know it.

At the age of 8 she was to be deprived of music, radio and TV by her extremist Father for the next ten years, and, only progressed her love for music in secret lunchtime sessions at School.  Her remarkable talent flourished, and, at the age of 28 she produces, writes and arranges her debut album which Decca have had on ‘slow release’ for a few months.  The twelve songs here are nothing short of immaculate and should see the artist propelled into the spotlight within a very short space of time, or, there is no justice.

Opening with the title track the album confirms that this is indeed a star in the making.  Swaying violins, and the voice of an angel.  She sings of her enforced restrictions as a child and how the child inside her was barely allowed to exist.  If this song doesn’t melt your heart then you have no soul. 

You’ll probably recognise Storm Song.  Starting eerily and gently enough, it soon rises into a catchy pop song racing along like the steam train it mentions, Phildel’s voice extraordinarily belies her age, belonging instead to a more mature artist.  The arrangement is faultless and the voice cannot be underestimated.  Incredibly catchy and likeable, and, early proof that Phildel isn’t just tied to slow songs.  Beneath the soft tones of the music are lyrics that really can bite, we’re not talking sugar-sweet pop here, we’re talking alternative pop is sheeps clothing.  We have true pop stomp on The Wolf, a track that begins slowly with lone voice, “And you once said, I wish you dead”, that sends shivers down your spine before moving into livelier territory.  Synth basslines pump out with echoed voices and effects, moving along with walls of sounds and an infectious dark chorus.



It would be easy to describe every one of the tracks on the album, but, the easiest thing to do is just listen to it.  It is an album of quite remarkable quality and displays a talent which surely cannot stay hidden for much longer.  Holes In Your Coffin is more black hypnotic pop moving along in an exciting and eerie fashion.  There is nothing that can describe Beside You other than ‘beautiful’ – a song written in classic style in so much as to say it is a classic song that you will hear time and time again.  Album closer, Funeral Bell, has lyrics of pure poetry,  “Mother I’m scared to die....Father I’m scared to live”, it’s slightly disturbing and gorgeous at the same time.  A track that leaves you aghast at its end.

Not only should you own this album, you should buy it and you should love it.  You should then give it pride of place in your cd cabinet and gaze upon it adoringly.

9.5/10



Published on Louder Than War 28/05/13 - here


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