AMPLIFIER MAGAZINE, USA
Vol. 3
by Tom Semioli
|
Some people maintain that
Jim Morrison never died in Paris 27 years ago. If that myth holds truth, then the Lizard
King has finally surfaced with a searing new album. Forget Other Voices, this is
the real follow-up to L.A. Woman. Actually, the artist is Phil Shoenfelt, an
Englishman who resides in Prague and was once active in the New York City art, film, and
literary circles in the early 1980s. The title song, which starts off the album in
evocative fashion, lifts the bass line from 'Love Her Madly' as Shoenfelt's roadhouse
baritone preaches 'blue highway has taken her away ... left me in this hotel room where
the crazy shadows play.' Fuzz guitars, jazzy drums, a moody keyboard, and tales of alcohol
despair and loneliness are all coalesced to keep the listener absorbed throughout the
journey. Tracks such as 'Black Snake Woman', 'Ghosts Of My Dead Lovers' and 'House Of
Pain' are an unholy mixture of country and goth. Give any musicologist a blind-fold test
and Southern Cross would surely be mistaken for Krieger, Manzarek, and Densmore. And if
those similarities to Mr. Mojo Risin' aren't spooky enough, Shoenfelt will soon author of
a book of poetry. If you wake up in the morning and get yourself a beer, then ride the Blue
Highway.
|
MIND WARP, Helsinki,
Finland
by Katriina Etholén |
Phil Shöenfelt is an
English musician, singer/guitarist, who live nowadays in Prague and who likes Nick Cave,
The Doors, Iggy Pop, aussie blues ...
Blue Highway (1997) is his fourth album. The Doors' influence can be noticed already in
the title track. But that's just a good thing. When I first listened to this song - which
also was my first contact to Phil's music - the Doors was the first thing that came to my
mind, but I also became very interested in it. All the songs on the album are written by
Phil. Very mysterious music with deep dark atmosphere, no hope, no light to be seen.
Melancholy and disconsolate lyrics, pain and misery, loneliness and broken relationships.
Just think about the names of the songs: Draggin' Me Down, The Ghosts Of My Dead
Lovers, Back In The Underworld, Lonely Street, House Of Pain ... Sometimes fascinating
and even dreamlike scenes can be found, for example in a song Black Snake Woman,
allegoric and mythic tale, which brings very filmic images before your eyes. That's one of
the strong points in Phil's music: they are so powerful that you can see the songs,
you can't just listen to the music but you have to listen to the lyrics - you have to know
what they are about. The lyrics are also translated into Czech, which also shows how
important they are. |
