| Normal Mailorder |
Musik die nicht nur qualitativ an
den düsteren getriebenen American Delta Blues und Country erinnert, aber trotzdem von
einem englischen Autor und Dichter produziert wurde, der viele Jahre in New York
residierte und jetzt in Prag lebt. Phil Shöenfelts Songs reflektieren den Mythos des
Ausgestossenen, der durch eine feindselige Landschaft dahintreibt, Opfer seiner Fantasien
und Paranoia wird, und dessen Beziehungen zu anderen oft obsessiv und destruktiv sind. Der
Einfluss von Pionieren wie The Velvet Underground, Glenn Branca, Sonic Youth, Nick Cave,
Iggy Pop, Neil Young, Patti Smith, Television und Swans ist offensichtlich. Die Musik ist
Rock, aber mit Avantgarde-Elementen, gespielt von einer erstklassigen internationalen
Band, die in Clubs und auf Festivals in ganz Europa und auch Deutschland aufgetreten ist.
Während Phil der alleinige Songwriter der Band ist, sind Southern Cross ein sehr
demokratisches Kollektiv, dessen dynamische Interaktion zum integralen Teil des Sounds
wird. Manchmal sanft und einfühlend, dann wieder hart und gewaltig. "Ecstatic"
ist eine fesselnde und emotionale Erfahrung. |
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Whisperin' and Hollerin'
01/2003, by Tim Peacock |
Ex-pat British singer/songwriter
PHIL SHOENFELT is based in Prague, and - at least on the basis of "Ecstatic" -
is vastly under-exposed in the western media. Because "Ecstatic" is one of those
fine, grown up rock records that comes in from the cold every now and then and sorta
smoulders in its' own brilliance. On being handed my promo copy, I was told it would be up
my alley (correct), with discussed reference points including The Stooges and Swans: also
correct, but only a small fraction of the story here. Indeed, Shoenfelt writes darkly
affecting, and often surprisingly romantic songs, and "Ecstatic" presents 10 of
them in a beautifully sequenced order. Vocally, he reminds this writer a little of Iggy
(in his croonsome moments circa "Blah Blah Blah"), or maybe Michael Gira in his
Children of God guise, but his rich voice is nicely evocative in its' own right, and his
commanding presence ensures every drop of emotion is wrung out of these songs. Shoenfelt's
band SOUTHERN CROSS, meantime, play with fire to spare throughout. Sometimes they rock,
with songs like the chilly, but catchy "Magdalena" and the slytalking
"Twisted" not dissimilar to earlier, Will Sargeant - shaped Bunnymen, while - at
a separate tangent - "The Spirit & The Flesh" rattles with the vivid and
determined economy of The Bad Seeds. Phil ain't afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve,
either. In fact, in "Don't Look Down" and "Waiting 4U" - probably the
album's two tenderest moments - he hits peaks of achievement. The former (to these muddled
ears) reminds of Crime & The City Solution in their more pastoral moments, while the
wistful, loss-ridden lyrical theme of "Waiting 4U" is undeniable. The fact that
it's immediately usurped by the bitter, hard-riffing "Wasted Life" only adds to
its' charm. Just to ensure we're in no doubt of their talent, they sign off with the
dramatic, strings and slide guitar-soaked majesty of "The Streets Tonight": a
moving, part-spoken confessonal in the Nick Cave mould, which explodes back into fiery
life as you think it's fading out. "Ecstatic" is a finely-wrought,
vividly-written and passionately created album, which (if there's any justice) ought to be
the introductory door for far more potential listeners in both West and East. A
consistently impressive piece of work by anyone's standards. (8/10) |
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Nikki Sudden
Berlin, 19.11.2002 |
Another chapter from the
diary of an exiled Englishman living out his middle-years in the Czech Republic. Once
again Shoenfelt puts together a delicate parcel of music laced with stories of dignity and
decay. As his recent book, Junkie Love, traced out a life in Camden Town in the late-'80's
so "Ecstatic" takes the listener on a journey down the gauzy and grubby
thoroughfares of Prague. And it's a glorious transverse of those dark-rainy
Eastern-European streets. Shoenfelt's last album, Dead Flowers For Alice, was his
strongest set yet. "Ecstatic" capitalises on that release. Violinist and viola
player Pavel Cingl shines throughout this album's scenarios while Shöenfelt's lyrics
reflect the highs and the lows of blemished dignity. Over the past two decades Shoenfelt
has acquired a glorious style of his own. This Czech import album allows the world to
share some of his more recent epistles. And, as should be, the last track is the
best. |
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Glitterhouse Mailorder
08/2003 |
Neues Album des Exil-Briten.
10 ruhige, hypnotische Rocksongs, Richtung mittlerem Nick Cave und klar Nick Drake
beeinflusst, mit emotionalem Tiefgang, wie man es von ihm gewohnt ist. Eigentlich eher
eine Herbstplatte, aber melancholische Momente gibt es ja auch im Sommer. |
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