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Phideaux 
Forum Senior Member 
Joined: August 27 2007 Status: Offline Points: 378 |
 Posted: March 25 2011 at 08:49 |
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Don't worry Bonnek, it's following the natural curve whereby the friends and supporters hear it first. It will very quickly take its natural place downwind...
According to the ranking it's better than "In The Court Of The Crimson King". Fancy that!!!! LOL. Once the general public hear it, they will weigh in. Of course I did offer the full version for free to anyone who wanted it, so anyone has been able to hear it for the past fortnight. Cheers and thanks for the update. Oh, and thanks for the kind remarks and critiques from those who have heard it. |
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King Manuel
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 16 2010 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 952 |
Posted: March 25 2011 at 09:09 |
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Don't Bore Us, Get To The Chorus
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harmonium.ro
Special Collaborator 
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: August 18 2008 Location: Anna Calvi Status: Offline Points: 22989 |
Posted: March 25 2011 at 09:12 |
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^ You can already buy the digital version of the album on Bandcamp for 10 bucks.
Support Bandcamp, they're the best!  |
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akaBona
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 15 2010 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 2082 |
Posted: March 25 2011 at 09:18 |
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after morning coffee and cigarette i felt so fine i thought this will be a good day!
today Phideaux opened a total new door to me. listened some songs from Snowtorch (after reading praised reviews from PA) and now i'm totally hooked. listened doomsday few hours ago and what an album that also is! nothing has moved me musically this much for ages! |
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Bonnek
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 01 2009 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 4521 |
Posted: March 25 2011 at 10:05 |
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Oh I'm not worrying at all, I was merely stating a surprising fact.  It's a natural curve indeed, happens a lot, but never in such grandiose fashion. And at least it's for an album that's deserving it this time, though maybe not quite up there with ITCOTCK and Dark Side of The Moon |
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omardiyejon
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 14 2010 Location: Turkey Status: Offline Points: 177 |
Posted: March 25 2011 at 17:27 |
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I have bought it and listened to it maybe more than 15 times or something like that. I think part 1 is the best of the Phideaux so far. It has strong resemblances to VDGG in a perfect way. Heavy piano and dynamic drums; that is what I am talking about. And the singings are great as they always are. A great album in many ways.
But about the reviews and ratings I do not feel comfortable at all. Giving it a weird 1 star review just to make it fall downwards in the 'top albums of all time' list is childish. The opposite is the same, why would I give a 5 star review just to make it on the top .I hope people will start to consider the value of this album in terms of progressive rock itself. Comparing it with ITCOTCK or something else is not healthy at all. Our feelings about the album are sadly distracted by an artificial ranking.
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Phideaux
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 27 2007 Status: Offline Points: 378 |
Posted: March 25 2011 at 20:42 |
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Personally, Omardiyejon, I wish it wasn't "rated" as such. I like the reviews, but not so much the ratings only. It's also weird to have it compared alongside Red and Foxtrot and Thick As A Brick. I can easily understand people "voting" it down from that perch. I certainly don't think it's better than any of the albums in the top group (well maybe one or two, but they are all definitely post 1989!)
At any rate, I'm thrilled that folks are listening and enjoying it. I totally expect that some people will hate it for its "pretensions" and sunny melodic song structuring. I hadn't thought that it was "depeche mode" made proggy, but that is actually a pretty good comparison. I remember hearing Depeche Mode music for the masses and thinking it was pop music derived from Progressive Rock. So, it is totally possible that my writing takes the simple song structures and tarts them up. But the really fun thing is that I can get together with my friends and teach them some song/music ideas, go into a studio, record it, tart it up with all sorts of weird sounds and "orchestrations", have the words be some strange allegorical "dark night of the soul" for all the history of humanity and call it Snowtorch (a somewhat blatant opposite of the blowjob that we are left with once we take away the title from Blowtorch Snowjob)! What a hoot!!! So, after that it's all good riches. Rock on my figureheads friends. |
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Gerinski
Prog Reviewer 
Joined: February 10 2010 Location: Barcelona Spain Status: Offline Points: 5160 |
Posted: March 26 2011 at 06:28 |
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I did not know your music but was curious for quite some time by the excellent reputation. I have just been listening to Snowtorch Pt 1 in the stream here and it's indeed great stuff, gonna order some CD for sure.
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: March 26 2011 at 07:47 |
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Listening to it now again. I really love those lyrics, so important to me always. Part of my review of the first track... The lyrics are powerful and moving on Part One, with vocals interjecting over the music immediately; "star of light, see what you gave cheated away the core, dark night edge of a blade, as we tap the grave of wax figurines, ice melts upsets the sea, submit follow me, walk with me now in the sunlight, daylight down with the night, invincible light are you back with us now, source of all reason, I come alive finally I cry and it's me I have arrived...." This could be about a protagonist who is searching for an answer to the chaos in life, the despair that he feels is due to the disappointments that have plagued him but around the corner is the light at the end of the darkness, things will get better. It is open to interpretation. Then the time sig changes with the strong synth melody is excellent ... nice keyboard swells too. I really love this first track. The lyrics continue to disperse mystical imagery and enchanting words weave a spell of compelling words; "Are you dusty, my figurehead friends, what’s it feel like to come to the end..." The protagonist is questioning his existence, people are like wax figures to him, no soul and no emotion, the disillusion of life's tragedies has emptied the man of emotion and filled him with regret. The flute section feels happier but there is an ominous lead guitar threatening to dominate and swallow the peaceful feelings. The flute dances merrily along with cloudbursts of drums and chiming synths. A minimalist piano brings the mood down till the female vocals come in with enchanting lyrics "I need you to know you will die." The male answers "I know what you need" but the lady sings that she promises she will "purge wll the words left inside". The mood becomes intense but then the tension is released with the lonely piano and bright synths. Both male and female vocals harmonise that they are entwined. The song changes feel then with a very pronounced piano forte passage. It is joined by ambient passages of synths and a tirade of fast tempo hi hat cymbals and low buzzing synths. The piano section is reminiscent of classic Emerson, and a delightful keyboard break to enhance the mood. When the violins and woodwind section blazes away the song has completely become a majestic work of art. The lengthy instrumental is incredibly progressive and there is even an indelible saxophone that blasts out benign notes. The opening track is ineffaceable masterful prog at its best, multi instrumental and very provocative, moving in textural shades of many moods and making an impact on the listener due to the virtuoso playing and reflective lyrics. OK I am going back to the album now.
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Phideaux
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 27 2007 Status: Offline Points: 378 |
Posted: March 26 2011 at 11:36 |
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Atomic, I'm so glad to hear someone discussing the lyrics. The only thing I have been getting lately about my lyrics is that they are just nonsense for us to sing like the lyrics of Yes! :-) I will admit they are not the sort of lyrics like "Johnny stepped into the bar, the Lights were too bright. They brought out the heat that was burning his life. He went to his drink, well what can he do? When there's nothing inside you can fill it with booze!"
That was of course the first draft of the song... Anyway, thanks for listening. Edited by Phideaux - March 26 2011 at 11:36 |
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TheGazzardian
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 11 2009 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 8844 |
Posted: March 26 2011 at 11:44 |
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Truthfully I am surprised by the comments on the lyrics. It is clear to me that they have a more direct meaning than anything from Yes' heyday ... although the pieces I've put together have lead to a different interpretation than what ACR found. For me it speaks more about a deception being revealed, or a truth being discovered ... but I haven't put it all together yet and that interpretation could change once I've had time to think about it more.
Regardless, this album is awesome, I love it all so far, even Part 2. I love the instrumental section and laughed the first time I saw that you guys called it Blowtorch Snowjob. I'm definitely looking forward to when I have a copy I can play on my speakers and really turn on up the volume. I'm holding back my review until then. Although so far it definitely sits at 4 stars. I don't quite think it's a 5 star album (I'm very stingy with 5 star reviews) but it's pretty dang close and could grow by then. I'd say this album is better than Number Seven, almost as good as Doomsday. Edited by TheGazzardian - March 26 2011 at 11:45 |
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silcir
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 06 2009 Status: Offline Points: 190 |
Posted: March 26 2011 at 11:50 |
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The Part I of Snowtorch is really something. I'm not a heavy follower of Phideaux's work but i think i might become one. I truly like that first 20min of music. Amazed by that.
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Guldbamsen
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin Joined: January 22 2009 Location: Magic Theatre Status: Offline Points: 23147 |
Posted: March 26 2011 at 14:50 |
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I remember reading that review suggesting the Depeche Mode similarity, and I honestly don´t hear it. There have been a lot of references to Jethro Tull, Van Der Graff, Punk Flute and the likes and I can see where one would get such impressions in listening to your music, but first and foremost I believe you have achieved something very difficult, in sounding completely like Phideaux - which sounds rather ridiculous, but I am never in any doubt to whom I´m listening to whenever one of your songs is playing, and that is rare. I think it´s the combination of the layered vocals - your songwriting and the way you play the piano. I don´t think I´ve heard anything quite similar. I´ve listened to the stream of Snowtorch a couple of times - and I must admit, that I think you´ve done it again. Sounds like a combination of 7 and Doom - without ever ripping any of them off. P.S. I love the fact that some of the aspects of 7 - like Gift of the Flame and the whole feel of it - sort of develops on Snowtorch, well at least from what I´ve heard so far. Just beautiful stuff! |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: March 27 2011 at 07:48 |
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The above comments are gold. I love the way this album contains so many possible interpretations. Mine are in my review and, yes, the album is another masterpiece as far as I am concerned. Its more VDGG than their latest album even! i mean it seems to hark back to the golden era of prog 70s sound without sounding dated if that were possible and i cant et the melodies out of my head. Right now all I can think in my head is that section that goes "so tell me how to lose the regret..." etc etc. Another few listens and i will know the lyrics by heart. I would definitely see the band live if they came to Australia. OK. It may not happen but I will be getting the rest of the catalogue of Phideaux this year some time.
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Andy Webb
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin Joined: June 04 2010 Location: Terria Status: Offline Points: 13298 |
Posted: March 27 2011 at 10:31 |
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Yikes. This album has been out only for a few scant weeks, and is already in the top 25 (#24, to be precise) best prog albums here. That's quite the accomplishment!
 Edited by andyman1125 - March 27 2011 at 10:32 |
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Phideaux
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 27 2007 Status: Offline Points: 378 |
Posted: March 27 2011 at 11:09 |
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Hahaha, Andy. I think you will find the album gone from that list soon enough. I wish there was a "waiting period" before new albums are even eligible for that list. It takes several years for people to really digest an album before full appraisal of its merits can be known. However, I do get very excited when I hear a new album that seems to really crystalize everything I love about music. I might think, this album is perfect. It's exactly what I want to hear, and the artist is really playing to all of their strengths -- 5 Stars! However, if I was asked "Is that album better than Yes Relayer or Storia di un Minuto by PFM?" would I still say 5 stars? I don't know that I would. So, when the album appears on the rise, I think people recoil and say "wait a minute, this is just infatuation with something new" and they reappraise to "course correct" so that the order of the universe can be restored. Of course, it's hard to know what people really think unless they write a review. And I do thank folks for their comments, etc. We, naturally, tried to make the album that we thought would support the musical ideas and explore the themes laid out. We obviously think it's in the higher "star" category -- but any new parent does think that. Why would we put it out if we thought it was just 2 stars? Anyway, it's a lovely day, and early and I thank folks for the interest and discussion. Working as an artist in isolation can be lonely. The craftsman craves communication about their work. I think gigging musicians get that from the audience, whereas recording artists don't have the contact. So, to be perfectly honest, these boards are so fantastic and fun (most of the time!!! Wait a couple weeks and then all the people who were duped into buying Snowtorch due to all the great reviews will post their reviews!!! It might not be a pretty sight!) |
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Andy Webb
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin Joined: June 04 2010 Location: Terria Status: Offline Points: 13298 |
Posted: March 27 2011 at 11:16 |
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I certainly understand that that list is very much temporary, but it was 31 yesterday, and 6 spots in a day is rather impressive! And I've given the album a few listens- I doubt the rating will drop very far, even with nay-sayers.
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timothy leary
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 29 2005 Location: Lilliwaup, Wa. Status: Offline Points: 5319 |
Posted: March 27 2011 at 11:19 |
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I am not a reviewer. I know what I like though. Phideaux is to me consistently original. Thanks.
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Horizons
Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 20 2011 Location: Somewhere Else Status: Offline Points: 16952 |
Posted: March 27 2011 at 11:21 |
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Yea, after reading alot of the reviews for Snowtorch, i've decided to give it a listen.
And like everyone that posted before, it is quite enjoyable.
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refugee
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member Joined: November 20 2006 Location: Greece Status: Offline Points: 7026 |
Posted: March 27 2011 at 12:17 |
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After a few listenings: definitely 4 stars. But good music is like good wine: If it ages well, it might just become one of those rare 5 stars gems. Better keep it in the cellar for 10 or 20 years!
 I tried to print out the lyrics. That was a waste of ink — not because the lyrics are bad but because my printer gave me only something like 1/4 of the inner gatefold. I’d better send you a PM, Phideaux, so you can send me a copy (I live far away and will gladly pay the shipping — as long as you put in a cartidge with black ink!). Anyway, thanx for making wonderful music and sharing it with us! |
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He say nothing is quite what it seems;
I say nothing is nothing (Peter Hammill) |
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Snowtorch!!! (Phideaux)
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Phideaux wrote: