New Phideaux album "Number Seven" now out
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Topic: New Phideaux album "Number Seven" now out
Posted By: Phideaux
Subject: New Phideaux album "Number Seven" now out
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 22:15
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Howdy folks, my name is Phideaux Xavier and my band Phideaux (yes, it's a band and I suppose it can only seem like I'm a huge egomaniac...) have just released our new album. It's called Number Seven and it's a long song cycle thing with a theme. If you like baroque/folk/instrumentally challenging music, check it out. I won't bore you with too many superlatives, but I will suggest that we worked hard to let the music take us on a journey. I think we succeeded in moving beyond the confines of our last album "Doomsday Afternoon". Check us out on Amazon.com CD Baby SynPhonic Kinesis Laser's Edge Of Sound Mind and over the pond in the cradle of civilization Just For Kicks - Germany Progress Records - Sweden Musea - France F2 Music Ltd - UK |
Replies:
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 22:41
| Cool. I've only listened to one of your albums so far, so I'll be sure to check this one out next. :) |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 23:23
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Already? All the long wait and suddenly it's out? Neat beans. A wonderful surprise. Already ordered.
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Posted By: Agnostic21
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 05:50
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 06:15
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Will order it soon. Looking forward to seeing you in the 8/6 Brooklyn show. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Buried in Green
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 14:49
| Just ordered it. I can't wait to hear it! |
Posted By: Queen By-Tor
Date Posted: June 26 2009 at 16:16
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What's your Canadian distribution like? Some of us have tried to steer clear of internet orders... Regardless, really looking forward to this! |
Posted By: Collapsus
Date Posted: June 27 2009 at 16:43
| I'm so excited. I hope I'll find it at my music store but I bet I'll have to order and wait for it... however, great news ! |
Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: June 28 2009 at 16:57
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Yeah, we don't have any canadian distro... Too bad. I should look into that. As to Liquid's comment about long songs -- you are right that we did split them up. It's pretty much for goofiness sake and because I wanted to be able to go to certain sections -- also, sometimes it's not clear where songs begin and end, there are various different types of epics that can be created out of these pieces... Check out samples from new album on reverb nation www.reverbnation.com/phideaux |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: June 28 2009 at 19:15
I only have Chupacabras, but because of that (which is really growing on me), I plan on making further acquisitions. Great work. 
------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Evolutionary Sleeper
Date Posted: June 28 2009 at 20:03
Can't wait to hear it! High expectations after the magnificent Doomsday Afternoon. 
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: June 29 2009 at 15:15
I was looking over at Laser's Edge website and didn't see it and in the website's forum, Ken Golden writes in response to people asking if he will stock your album that: "I'd be happy to. Strange thing...the guy was apparently at Nearfest and dropped off 120 copies with Syn-Phonic. He never came over to our tables to introduce himself or offer me any copies. Ken" So, will it be there or not? ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Phideaux wrote:Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: June 30 2009 at 14:11
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To answer your question Avestin, we just sent off an order to Laser's Edge. Ken is right that I did stumble upon Greg at NEARfest -- His was the first table in the room. Also, I know Greg by sight and he's carried our albums from the beginning. So, he snapped up the full 100 discs that I had arranged to be shipped out (they arrived from the printers after I left for NF). Honestly, I was glad not to have to go table to table offering them to folks that I don't personally know -- also, breaking through the inevitable crowds around each table to say, "Hello I'm Phideaux Xavier and I have my new album here, would you like to carry it?" That would have been quite embarrassing for such a low key person such as myself. I should be better at introducing myself to folks, but I'm really quite shy. |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: June 30 2009 at 14:14
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I understand, thanks for posting. I'll be sure to order it from Ken as soon as I see it there. The samples I heard on www.reverbnation.com/phideaux were very good!! So I can't wait. PS - see you at the Brooklyn show in August ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: June 30 2009 at 14:52
Believe me Phideaux, all those people at NEARfest would know you and be happy to talk to you. Just ordered mine off Kinesis for the low, low price of $11.99. What a deal.
------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: June 30 2009 at 21:55
| hahahah, Johnobvious, I don't know about how happy folks would be to talk to me! However, I will say I wouldn't want to presume anything! BTW, thanks for ordering the album, that means a lot. I hope you like it. |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: June 30 2009 at 22:01
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Um, I just noticed... My amazon order says it will ship sometime in the next one to two months? What's that about? Should I cancel that and go elsewhere with it?
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: June 30 2009 at 22:23
| that is VERY weird because they should have the stock. Although it's possible they may have run out and not realized that there's another parcel on the way to them. I am sorry about that because they should have it. They haven't mentioned in your queue whether they've sent it or not? |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: June 30 2009 at 22:28
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002B41KZM/ref=ox_ya_oh_product I ordered it on the 25 of June, when I read this post. Items are still not yet shipped. -------------
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Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: July 01 2009 at 08:29
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LE, mine shipped from Kinesis yesterday. Same day turnaround.
------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: July 01 2009 at 08:44
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PX, I am serious. In the glutted market of prog and music in general, you are one that stands out in the marketplace that those people cater to right now. You are a little behind the eight ball now because things have died down from DDA and you made the announcement in November that new material was coming and then it took 8 months. I don't have any idea what your sales figures are but it seems to me that a new release right now would be in the top 10% of sales for those internet prog guys when it is first released. For them that is a sure thing and what keeps them in business. They would love to build a relationship with you, even if it is just a handshake and a few words. It seems you are a little reticient about the business side of the music biz. Unfortunately It is a necessary evil when you aren't splashed all over the radio or have good label support. I just hope this doesn't impede your success because what I have read about you and the way you go about making music seems unique and fresh. Hang in there, man. The struggle never ends. ------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 01 2009 at 10:24
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Yeah, Amazon sent back an email saying that they have none of the album yet in their warehouses anywhere. I have no idea what that means for this, but I'm giving them a couple more days (because I have more in the order, you see, a good bargain), but if nothing comes forward by the end of the week, I'm switching to elsewhere.
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Posted By: Buried in Green
Date Posted: July 01 2009 at 12:35
| Actually, I ordered Number Seven from Amazon.com on June 26th, and for a few days it said that they had no copies, but then they sent me an email update telling me that they actually did and my item would ship in the next few days. It shipped June 29th, and I should be recieving it either today or tomorrow. I don't know why LiquidEternity's item isn't shipping, as he ordered a day before I did... |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 01 2009 at 17:42
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Okay, now apparently it should be shipping the 6 of July, which is almost acceptable... Except they decided to break up the frakking shipment! I made it come to just over 25 dollars to get the best bang for my buck here, right? And suddenly it's all separated, though it's all leaving on the same day and from the same place, so I'm losing six or seven dollars. Stupid store. And what's EVEN better is that at this current stage in shipping or preparation or whatever, I can't make any changes. So last minute they're charging me an additional hunk of money and I can't do anything about it? BullCRAP. Gah. I always use independent sellers through amazon, never the actual store. Looks like my thinking was in order before. Yeesh. -------------
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Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 01 2009 at 18:34
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Okay, at the moment, everything looks like it will be free for the shipping. It had bloody better well stay that way, you know?
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 02 2009 at 00:38
| naw, even if they send them all on separate days but you ordered with free shipping they have to honour that. Sorry it's taken so long |
Posted By: Marlon
Date Posted: July 02 2009 at 06:58
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Just ordered mine from cdbaby. Can't wait to hear it.
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Posted By: 6Degrees
Date Posted: July 02 2009 at 07:34
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Just now I'm listening this amazing album! Wow! Congratulations, and thank You. You are great. It's better even than the wonderful Doomsday Afternoon. For me is without any doubt the album of the year. |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 02 2009 at 08:33
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Yes, yay! Things are sorting out. Number 7 shipped this morning! How exciting. I should get it by my birthday! The others are going to take their time, but I they took the price of shipping back off again. Now I'm happier. Guh. What a hassle.
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Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: July 02 2009 at 11:59
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I just ordered a dredg album and two books on amazon to get over $25 that they separated the order. You still get free shipping anyway. That's the policy.
------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: July 02 2009 at 12:37
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Ordered Number 7 from Laser's Edge just now, looking forward ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Marlon
Date Posted: July 02 2009 at 18:16
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As I said in the morning. Ordered mine from cdbaby today. It's my first order there and I've just received a message saying that the order has shipped. I'm really impressed with this!!!!!!!! CDBaby deserves a great -------------
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Posted By: kenmartree
Date Posted: July 03 2009 at 16:22
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I'll be ordering my copy as soon as I get home from Greg Walker. Xaiver, I'd like to thank you for your music, My daughter is 2 and we've been listening to Doomsday Afternoon for most of her life. Awesome album which we like to dance to, I know prog is not supposed to be dance music but for us it is. Some of the time changes is The Doctrine of Eternal Ice are particularly good. Very excited to hear the new album
Kenmar
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 03 2009 at 19:31
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awww, your poor daughter. Send me the therapy bill and I'll split it with you when she's older! in seriousness, I'm touched! |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 03 2009 at 20:37
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Ha, Phideaux, I'm trying to get my girlfriend interested in your stuff. It's slow going, because you aren't indie enough or something. But anyways, Doomsday Afternoon is passable, not annoying but not really catching. I'm thinking 313 is more up her alley. I don't have The Great Leap yet, though it's on my list, but I understand that might be plausible. Heh. You see, to me, your music is like indie but it doesn't suck. Not a bad combo, you see...
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 03 2009 at 20:41
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although I know you don't like to download, if you want to try some Leap stuff, we have some of the songs on bloodfish.com in the media section and they are free downloads... Good luck with her! :-) |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: July 03 2009 at 20:50
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I guess I'm lucky then, cause my wife and I love Doomsday Afternoon (and we're now going through your back catalog) and we're both coming to your show in Brooklyn. Should receive Number 7 next week in the mail, looking forward to that, as the samples in Reverbnation sounded great! ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 04 2009 at 01:35
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Awesome Avestin, I look forward to meeting you there. I think we have between 45 min and hour set. (i'm going to try for hour so we can play some longer things...) If you like Doomsday, you'll like the set... ;-) |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: July 04 2009 at 09:40
Awesome (from both of us)  ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: kenmartree
Date Posted: July 04 2009 at 10:57
Though the concept of Doomsday may be dark, The music is mostly " happy ". At two years old my daughter doesn't pay much attention to the lyrics. She likes your music much more than say Porcupine Tree, where a lot of the music is dark. I'll hit Steve Wilson up for the therapy bill.
Some of my daughters other favs along with Doomsday are Bacio della Medusa ( 2nd album) and Marillion Marbles.
Looking forward to getting my copy of Number 7, No West Coast tour? kenmar
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 04 2009 at 13:11
| We are hoping to play in Los Angeles around the time of CalProg in October -- the plan is for Edensong to share the bill. |
Posted By: kenmartree
Date Posted: July 04 2009 at 13:43
| a long way from portland but I will try, kenmar |
Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 14:47
| We just uploaded some of the new album onto myspace.com/phideaux . It's the same tracks we uploaded onto ReverbNation - except these aren't broken up. The album is really a couple of long songs with a lot of transitions and it's been broken up for easy indexing... |
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 15:21
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I've moved this to "Prog News" |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 09:03
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Hey, for those who already have the CD/are Phideaux himself, are we still going to be able to see where the really long songs were broken up into smaller tracks? I mean, Love Theme and Waiting for the Axe to Fall, if I remember right. Does it say on the back of the CD case? Because, as clever as many of those song titles are, I prefer to have my epics and suites combined into a full piece rather than torn into little bits. But maybe they don't even make a cohesive whole? Some of my news is old news that was forgotten and changed around...
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 13:03
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Hey Liq, If you just listen to the album without looking at the titles, you'll hear them as continuous pieces and there won't be any way to miss where the "suites" begin and end. Basically there are just two places in the album that have space. In some cases, the songs are modular and can function as part of longer suites, as detailed on back cover -- there are 3 20 minute suites. However, the reason I chose to break it up is because I, personally, wanted to be able to access certain cue points while listening. And, since I make the albums mostly for myself (because heaven's knows I'm not making any money from doing it) I decided it would be fun to have track numbers where I could access certain sections that I really liked. I realize it is pretty cheeky and maybe that is the perogative of the progressive art rocker, to be pretentious in the various ways... :-) BUT, please you tell me after hearing the album if they are cohesive wholes... |
Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 20:14
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Got mine today. Listened at work and so wasn't able to give it all my attention. A lot to absorb that is for sure. Will need a few more spins but first impression is good. Booklet artwork is real nice. Creepy but I like it. ------------- Biggles was in rehab last Saturday |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 20:59
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Found mine today in the mail when I came back from work, will listen to it later this week when I (hopefully) won't have so much on my mind, so I can enjoy it. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 21:29
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I have a question. I've used CDBaby a bit. Looking for recommendations on where I should buy it from and a non-Phideaux CD (I already have them all) I should get with it?
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 09:40
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Phideaux - I've listened to the album. All I have to say is: Bravo! On a personal note - these are gloomy and bad days for me on all fronts (I won't go on, but things are pretty bad for me lately), and your music, with its power and beauty, has managed to comfort me and make this day at least, a better one. Not many albums have this effect on me when I'm in this state. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 10:15
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Avestin, thanks for the kudos, I'm glad the album has been a cheer up. And thanks to everyone who has taken the chance and supported us... Slarti: A) thanks for having all our albums! Zoiks B) have you tried Edensong or Discipline or Matthew Parmenter solo albums? |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 15:02
Not yet, so much music, so little time. Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check them out. Having raided your catalog, I get the feeling your tastes in music are pretty close to mine. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: kenmartree
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 16:10
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My copy should be at home when I get off work today. Looking forward to it.
I noticed that the album has no reviews yet. I don't count reviews that are only stars and no written description. Let's do something about that. I don't like seeing that the album has five stars and 13 ratings (as of today), stinks of fanboyism.
I haven't ever written a review or given a star rating to an album on the site, but if there are still no written reviews after I get about 10-15 spins in, I may be forced to.
kenmar
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 17:51
| Please do write some reviews. I noticed that two of the reviewers only have ever reviewed 2 albums, each on this years docket. Additionally, some of the raters vote seemingly every album they've ever heard as 5 stars. As much as I'd love our new album to be rated 5 stars, I'd rather see what people really think. Luckily, nobody that I know has rated it yet... |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 17:59
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Currently listening to the album again, and I have to say, Storia Senti is a wonderful piece of music. Sublime. Covers several emotional landscapes with its textures, catchy main melody, seamless binding of song segments, wonderful playing... (hehe, I might even review the album if I keep this up). To anyone who's hesitating on what album to buy currently, to anyone thinking, what new music should I give a listen to: GET THIS!!! ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 18:05
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On the last seconds of the album when the music's over, there's a male voice saying: "That rocked". Who is it? Was it intentional to have it there? ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 19:07
Have just downloaded from iTunes and first impressions are - a superb album. Well done once again, Phideaux!  -------------  "Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 20:31
wow, i just wrote a whole longwinded post that has disappeared. Suffice it to say that's Rich, our trickster drummer, caught on tape. He always says something quippy after every take. I believe this was him after Storia Senti. |
Posted By: natewait
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 15:54
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Just wanted to say that I got the album about a week ago from Greg Walker and I absolutely love it! It is hard for me to decide if I like this album or Doomsday Afternoon more, they are both excellent and masterpieces in my opinion.
I especially love Gift of the Flame- the beginning reminds me of Dark Side of the Moon era Pink Floyd with the wonderful sax. Very cool song with a great funky groove. I love Love Theme from Number Seven, such a cool proggy number, I really love the piano in it. I also think Storia Senti is beautiful, and the opening, Waiting for the Axe to Fall suite is excellent. All in all an incredible job that is in fierce competition for album of the year. Thanks, Phideaux for making such an incredible album! I also want to mention that I love the vocals, definitely a highlight of the album.
(I will write up an official review for progarchives soon so that there are actual reviews and not just ratings for Number Seven  )------------- Please check out my Progressive Music Blog: http://leviathanprog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - The Leviathan . |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 16:49
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It arrived this afternoon! I'm putting it through the spinner at the moment, and I'm really liking what I'm hearing. I am having trouble, though, feeling any empathy for shrews. A few weeks ago, a couple of them got into our basement (where I live currently) and were tussling it out at three in the morning. Very unpleasant, squeaky, and unexpected. So I'm going with the sea-bugs on this one, land-mammal though I may be. Hm. -------------
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 17:46
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Go with the Crayfish! They are downtrodden, and really are our ancestors! (sorry to hear about your shrew infestation, though!) Meanwhile, I think the shrews look pretty mean on the album cover. It's sort of like Spy Vs. Spy... You never know which one to root for... Hope y ou like what you hear Liquid and thanks for the kind words, Natewait. Please do write a review. Currently it's just a lot of ratings and some of them are from folks who have only ever reviewed 2 or 3 things. It doesn't lend a lot of legitimacy to our standing (although we do thank them for their love)... |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 08 2009 at 17:49
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Incidentally, shrews apparently are very much loner rodents. They hate other rodents and they really hate other shrews. That's why they got really pissy in my bedroom. You know. I really enjoyed what I heard. A few more listens through and I might be up for reviewing it. We'll see. Looking forward to 7 1/2, though. -------------
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 09 2009 at 12:59
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Well, I went ahead and ordered from CD Baby because, after all CD Baby loves me. I decided to try a Discipline CD with it based on the sound samples. Thanks again for the recommendations Phideaux. |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 10:35
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Chupacabras arrived last night, too. So now I just have The Great Leap and Fiendish to go to have all of them. Hm. Anyways. Did you notice how high Phideaux and Number Seven are stacking in terms of the front page? I mean, you know how when people search for an artist a lot, they show up in that list on the main page. Phideaux is something like the third most viewed or something lately. Also, Number Seven appears to be the first album since June to boot Black Clouds & Silver Linings from the most-viewed album spot! Well done, Phideaux, you've generated some interest. Also, the ratings on Number Seven, while certainly going to drop, are still pretty impressive at the moment... -------------
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 11:54
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^ Looks like we have another fanboy on his way to raiding the catalog. I think you'll probably like everyone you get. I know I did. |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 11:58
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I know the PX discography is on my list. I really enjoy most of Chupacabras, especially the title track (and, strangely enough, "Party," which I thought was really weird at first).
------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 13:14
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Just a fan, not a fanboy. Phideaux's music is strikingly less bizarre than I usually go for, actually.
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 13:25
| I didn't mean it in a derogatory fashion. When I fall for an artist and find I have get everything in their catalog, I consider myself a fanboy. |
Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 14:18
Thanks for the vote of confidence Liquid! :-) hahahaha, I guess you're not digging Seven all that much! Actually, I was thinking it was pretty much of a bubble of hot air that was going to burst soon... Naturally I hope people regard the album highly, and a few written reviews would certainly add legitimacy! Meanwhile, it's good to know we're strikingly less bizarre than many other things in your queue. I always think we are too bizarre -- probably we are to the general publick, but those with more discerning tastes can handle us. Although, I do know what you mean because for me, the music is always very ordered and pleasant, not a lot of cacaphony or chaos -- although that is on the list of things to explore and places to go with the new live band format -- and with group writing and all that. Hitherto I've written most of the stuff and then experimented with it as we build it up. That does allow for some surprises, but not that many. My natural bias is to "beautiful" and "melodic" music so I cop to the notion that ours would be the less bizarre in a collection! cheerio and thanks for the discussion. We are naturally curious to see what people make of our new album, the direction we've taken... px |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 15:09
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I'm trying to quell my completionist mania. So I'm at least going to make sure that I don't buy Friction just because... Ha, that's not what I mean, Phideaux. I meant that initial reactions to new albums always move more towards an average rating over time. I really do love it, honestly, but at this point the only people who have it are those who decided to buy it straight away, i.e. predetermined fans. I'm commenting on a general trend from this site. That's all. It will still stay rated pretty well, though by the time it reaches (if it reaches) the number of ratings that Doomsday Afternoon, it likely will be a bit lower. I could be wrong, though. I'm just guessing. Well, you see, lately I've been going for really different sorts of things. Mike Patton projects, some avant-garde things, experimental things, etc. You compose wonderful melodies and songs, which is the part of music that a lot of those prior genres fall short in. Again, I'm not sl*gging your music. Compared to Radiohead or something, you're off the charts in terms of weird. But compared to maudlin of the Well, you're pretty straightforward. Venturing into cacophony and bizarreness in your music sounds great to me. But truthfully, if you keep writing with the quality that has marked your music since at least Ghost Story. This is a fan's vote of confidence, don't you worry. But the artists I respect the most are the ones who can sit on the level of everybody else, of their fans, and discuss things. And that's where you are, and that's a good part of what's cool about you and your music creation process. -------------
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Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 16:15
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Received my copy today,what an excellent album!
You topped the excellent Doomsday Afternoon with this one!
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 16:19
Mine's on the way:Your CDs have been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 16:28
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Liquid, I'm just joshing you. I totally know what you mean about the initial rating, in fact I was saying the same thing to band mates who were glowing over it. I reminded them that those who initially vote are the ones who wanted to hear the album to begin with. Also, I don't in any way mean to be responding to folks comments in a way they feel they need to justify or explain or make me feel good or whatever. I definitely appreciate the candor and folks true opinions. As for staying true to our sound, that would always be the case, but as with you and your musical tastes, we/I too have many different things which percolate in and eventually find their way into the music. I have for some time been trying to push at our boundaries a bit. For instance that's why we have the 7 min instrumental Love Theme on the album - to try out some heavier/jazzier stuff and get away from the vocal bias. cheers and gratitudes for the talk and opinions - pro and con... |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 16:35
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Ha, don't take it personally that I felt I had to justify myself. I'm often a very awkward communicator, so I usually make it a practice to try again if people don't up and agree. Also, I'm not so good at picking up joshings through the internet. It's hard to tell if you're trying lots of new things because I still haven't heard two (three, if you count that first one) of your albums. From what I've heard, you're going in a fun way. Love Theme is, by the way, a wonderful piano business. Few artists these days who try to incorporate jazz into their music do so effectively, but it sounds great in that one. I'm still always thrown by the Ruffian trilogy--it's just so heavy and toying with metal that it doesn't seem to fit into your music style. I love that kind of stuff. And the more progressive disco you can include, the better your music will be. As far as I can say, the only consistent elements to your music is the slow, spacey sort of vibe that much of it seems to carry, even in short simple songs like on 313. -------------
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 20:17
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Hi Phideaux, As I was listening to the album while driving yesterday, I was thinking about how you recorded the album. Did you it act by act? How did it go? if you don't mind me asking. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 21:07
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Phideaux, congrats on the new album, from the other posters it sounds wonderful. Here's a question, I've heard that you, Phideaux, make the most profit from direct sales, which makes sense from a business model. With that being said, will you be selling your music at your shows, specifically 3RP? Thanks and looking forward to hearing the new album. ------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 21:29
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Avestin, it's a long story, and I'm going to write a long winded thing that I will repurpose as a blog on my site as well: In 2007, Phideaux, the 10 piece band, performed at Festival Crescendo in beautiful France. We paid for a four camera crew to record the performance on video. When we got the audio tracks from this production company we saw that 75% of the tracks were corrupt and had drop outs every 3 seconds. The only track intact were the drums and vocals and guitars (but the acoustic guitar was submixed with the electric guitar which was waaaaay too loud). So, in order to salvage something and try to create a passable soundtrack for the video (as well as to remember the arrangements for these live performances) Gabe and I had the members come back to the studio to re-record their parts over the intact drum/vocal and guitar tracks (although we replaced the guitar tracks as well ultimately). ANYWAY.... After one of the sessions we had an extra day of studio time booked as we'd gotten more accomplished than we thought. So I had Rich the drummer come and record some new material. I had written the two long songs that were to comprise the album "Infernal" (Infernal and Eternal) which is the third part of the Doomsday Afternoon trilogy. However, this was not something I wanted to get into right away because it too complicated to do in a day. But, there was another song written called "Waiting For The Axe To Fall" -- about 12 minutes long. This was considered an outtake and not something I had a vested interest in, so we could experiment and knock it about a bit. Therefore, we spent the day putting down and piano/drum track for 75% of that song. At this time, we had two songs "In the bank". One was Tempest of Mutiny (8 min) which had been recorded with Rich Mouser the previous winter and the other was Out Of The Angry Planet (9 min) which we'd played live in France but had now been "re-recorded" over the bones of that live performance. I thought these two songs should be released. And now that I had another pretty good 12 minute song shaping up, it seemed a good idea to put together an album of odds and sods. I decided to call the album "Number Seven" a neutral title that I hoped wouldn't seem like it was the third part of the trilogy we had begun in 2006. I knew I didn't have the psychic energy to undertake that album at this time. Later, I went to NYC to rehearse the remaining portion of Axe with Rich and ended up writing some extra bits to take the song into a more dynamic direction. At the same time, we rehearsed some songs that were in the early stages of development (Gift Of The Flame, Have No Fear, Infinite Supply, Search For Terrestrial Life/Fistful). By this time, I decided not to put Tempest on the album because it was a different producer and different musicians, so we needed needed new stuff to compliment Angry Planet and Waiting for The Axe. Rich and I recorded, as we normally did, the basic tracks for the rest of these songs. Now, I also had an outtake from Doomsday Afternoon called Darkness At Noon which was orphaned from Infernal. So, Number Seven was going to be comprised of: Waitin For The Axe, Darkness At Noon, Have No Fear (which is like Prequiem but heavier and with drums), Gift Of The Flame, Search For Terrestrial Life/Fistful, Out Of The Angry Planet and Infinite Supply. Have No Fear was going to kick in right after Darkness, like Prequiem now does. But with the drums and the tempo change, it sounded too strange. It also sounded like an "end of album" song and that slot was to be Infinite Supply. So, then Gabe and I recorded a more mellow and slow version with no lyrics which came to be known as Prequiem. FLASH FORWARD: Overdubs. As the various members came and made their contributions to the album, I realized that there were many wonderful things that people brought to the songs and they were being pulled in a thousand cool directions. There was a lot of opportunity for members to own a little piece of the album and make things their own. As the tracks were shaping up, I felt there was something missing. I also felt that Out Of The Angry Planet, because of its live/unlive recording history, wasn't up to the snuff of the rest of the album. So, now I had another 9 minute hole in the fabric. I called folks back to L.A. to do our first ever live recording with most everyone in the same studio at the same time. For this purpose I composed, with some help from keyboard player B (Johnny Unicorn), the song Love Theme From Number Seven (including Storia Senti). Everbody heard the demo, but we all rehearsed and recorded the song in the same weekend. Now, the album was complete and there were only final overdubs and vocals and icing to put on the cake. It was during a guitar session that I improvised the Dormouse instrumental theme. We recorded it and then as the day wore on I'd keep playing this bit in between takes. I wrote humourous words about Dormice and we recorded the Interview with a Dormouse track live. Overnight I wrote the Dormouse End track and we recorded it the next day. While pulling together the lyrics, I noticed a flow to the theme of the music and realized there was a story happening, a hero's journey as it were. Axe was about someone being trapped in a cult and their loved one leaving them behind (in order to save themselves). Darkness saw a person being carried away on a boxcar to their death but claiming their soul/mind as their own. Gift dealt with people who give up vs. people who fight for their lives. Search is about waking up from insecurity/addiction/ineffective living and claiming the abundance that is available to all people if they want it. Infinite is an extrapolation of that, perhaps from the perspective of a person who has come through it and realizes that the universe is so immensely wide they are but a speck -- but a speck that is a part of this amazing whole. So, I saw a story arc and then seeded through the various elements I needed to pull them all together into one strand. I always knew the basic structure and we were conscious about how one song would end and deliver us into the next, but we did record it all in bits and pieces... Once the Dormouse pieces were written though, I had decided to organize the album around those pieces (which are a tongue in cheek reference to "Peace - A Theme" from The Wake Of Poseidon by King Krimsun). I wonder if that answers your question, Avestin.... |
Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 21:32
Profit? What profit? hahahaha, thanks for the kind words Roland. We will be selling our albums at 3RP, but I think there will be some vendors there as well selling them. We sell mostly through vendors and in fact, don't like to sell it ourselves. However at 3RP we are going to be selling some of the copies we have of my early 1990s demo called "Friction" I have about 800 of those things taking up valuable NYC space! |
Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: July 10 2009 at 21:34
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^ well shoot, I won't bother waiting then :) Looking forward to seeing you next month.
------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 00:03
That definitely answered it, thank you very much for the detailed answer! ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Buried in Green
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 11:02
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I recieved my copy of Number Seven from Amazon about a week ago, and I've been listening to it ever since. It's fantastic! I've been working on a creative project of my own comprised of seven short found footage films in the style of 60's public education films, but dealing with really absurd concepts in a deadpan way. The documentary-style narration at the start of "The Search for Terrestrial Life" inspired me to come up with a similar style of narration I'll be using in one of the films. That's a great song by the way, can't get enough of it.
Thanks Phideaux!
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 12:49
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Buried, I'm so glad you are finding inspiration and especially that you like Search. That's the song that is the most atypical "non-progressive rock" track, so I was worried folks might find it a put off. Please let me know when your project is done, I'd love to see it. The interesting thing about that narration is that it is done by Molly and Linda, who are identical twins. We forced them to read the text simultaneously and it's pretty freaky since their voices are so similar. I look forward to hearing them do it live - if we play that song live, that is... ;-) |
Posted By: Blackbeard
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 13:00
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Exists already a "date" for the release of 7 1/2 ?
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Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 14:12
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The Search for Terrestrial Life was the real tough grower for me. Who is the chick (I don't know how else to say it, but she kind of sounds kind of like a cross between Jon Anderson and Stevie Nicks) singing there? I don't really recognize her from the rest of Phideaux'sstuff. I would check what lines she's got, but I've got to go...
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 14:35
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So Phideaux, any live DVDs in the plans?
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 16:35
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It would be great to do a live DVD, but we needed to be well rehearsed, which we now are and will be after 3RP, so hopefully we will think of doing a show and recording it for DVD. The singer on Search is named Linda Ruttan Moldawsky and her sister Molly does all the harmonies. Valerie sings the second section. Linda and Molly have been on the albums since 313. We used to play, with Valerie, in a band called Sally Dick & Jane (which was a bit more punk/pop) in the 80s (high school). You may recognize their voices from "Satan's Angels Fly" section of Doomsday, or "Through the eye of time go I"... This was her first step into the lead vocals on a Phideaux album. She's done a lot of singing on my stuff in the past, and I think she has a bit of a Grace Slick sound. Cheers PX |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 21:04
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Looking back, I can hear that. You should let her do more solo spots. She sounds great!
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Posted By: PhideauxFan
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 04:22
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Number Seven is a very good album. Congratulations!
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Posted By: 6Degrees
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 06:02
This post maked me a little sad. I really love music, it's a very important part of my life. But I never wrote any review. Why? 1. My English is very poor. 2. I don't think, it's necessary to talk about the music. Listening music i have some feelings, impossible and needless to explain with words. So I don't write reviews and I don't rate albums. Even so, sometime it happens to be very impressed by an album (5 times in 3 years) and I decide to rate it with 5 stars (sign of my gratitude). That's what's happened also with this album. ("some of the raters vote seemingly every album they've ever heard as 5 stars"... hm. I'm not resentful, I understand your reasons.) I think this is without any doubt (for me), the best album of the last years. Sincerely congratulations! (And excuse me for my English.) |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 08:31
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Um, 6Degrees, all that post, and you hardly made any mistakes with your English. You're better than plenty of native speakers. Honestly, the excuse that you're bad at English is a pointless one, at least that's how it looks from here. Also, really, if you write a review but are not certain about its grammar and stuff, send it first to me or someone else, and we'll happily fix any errors for you. Also, as far as your opinions go, ratings are probably fine. But a review is for other people, for people unsure about a band or an album, and it's your chance to let them know. Also, reviews carry a lot more weight than simple ratings, so you would be gracing those albums much more than you are now with your high ratings. Anyways.
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Posted By: Phideaux
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 08:51
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Six degrees, You are right to be sad. I seem full of ingratitude by my post. I am not. I am humbled and overwhelmed by people giving my album 5 stars. It really does mean a great deal to me. I guess I let the outside voices get to me where people say I've had all my friends sign up to vote for the album. I am grateful for every person who buys the album and takes the time to listen to it. I guess, like a kid with a new toy, I just want to know what people think about it -- if they like the transitions, if they notice the way certain themes recur, if they notice the bit of lyrics from Doomsday, if they like the instrument sounds we used for this album. I wonder if people pick up on the geometric keyboard patterns in "Prequiem" that pay homage to the geometric keyboards of "Candybrain". All these types of questions one can find out from a review or a buzz. One spends months/years making an album and then you release it to the world and there isn't all that much feedback (unlike a live performance). When a band is as unknown and low as we are, there isn't a lot of media attention or reviews at the beginning. It starts to trickle down through word of mouth. Anyway, Six Degrees, that's where I was coming from, but I should rephrase it so I don't seem an ungrateful git. |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 08:58
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Do you recommend that I pick up The Great Leap first, then Doomsday Afternoon, before grabbing your latest venture? (I guess I'm wondering if these albums should be heard in that order). Also, a Chupacabras review is forthcoming.  ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 09:17
And wait a minute...you direct General Hospital (and other assorted soap operas)? 
------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 09:31
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Pignose, Number Seven exists independently of the trilogy that The Great Leap and Doomsday Afternoon belong to. My advice is to go with Doomsday Afternoon. It's pure brilliance, all the way through, while The Great Leap is, as I understand it, less a prog record and more an art rock sort of venture, along the lines of (though probably plenty different from) 313. I don't think there should be anyone in this thread who does not have and play regularly Doomsday Afternoon. Also, the CD artwork says the album is called "Number Seven." The majority of listeners on last.fm, however, have put it down as "Number 7." I'm trying to decide myself. Is 7 1/2 going to be called "Number 7 1/2"? Or is it just going to be "7 1/2"? I'm not sure entirely why I care. Okay. Anal retentive, that's the term. THAT'S why I care... Also, I don't do math very well, so I didn't catch the correlation between Candybrain and Prequiem. However, I felt that Darkness at Noon (which I think I read was an outcast Doomsday tune anyways) seemed to hearken back towards the melodies of that previous album. Especially when the line "...I was separated from you" is sung. -------------
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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 09:48
I was going to get Doomsday Afternoon, but I got Chupacabras at a cheaper price.  However, that's a good thing since it invites me to acquire other works by this gentleman.------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 12:28
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If you're going a catalog raid the order probably doesn't matter. I got The Great Leap about a week before Doomsday. I like Doomsday a little better. But as it goes, I have yet to try a Phideaux album I didn't like. Still drooling in anticipation for the day when I open up my mailbox when I get home after work and the new one has arrived. It's here, it's here. Just getting into it. Excellent CD booklet art. The music will take a few days to sink in. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: July 14 2009 at 12:38
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Phideaux, Number Seven is fantastic. There will be a review coming, though I need to give it a few more listens before I can do the album justice. I'll say this, I've loved Doomsday since I picked it up, but Number Seven may even be better. This is great stuff Phideaux. Thank you, ------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: Dirk
Date Posted: July 15 2009 at 15:33
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Got it today and listened to it ~ 5 times, this is really marvellous. Expectations were high after Doomsday afternoon and reading reviews/comments here but they're fully met. Outstanding album. I'll surely checkout the rest of your catalog after hearing this. Congrats to you and the band . Hans from Progwalhalla who sold me the album was impressed too and thought it the best Phideaux album sofar, he may well be right. |
Posted By: sampo
Date Posted: July 16 2009 at 12:58
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Got my disc today and... Wow, PX, this is some fantastic piece of music you and your band put together. The arrangements and the compositions are so well executed along the story it actually leaves me empty at times. I won't go as far as saying this is better than Doomsday Afternoon (it's close to impossible, being one of my all-time favourite records) but a few more listens and I may have to revise that statement. IMO, you and your band are one of the (if not 'the') most accomplished acts in prog rock today. NEVER quit! |
Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: July 25 2009 at 19:40
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Phideaux, Congrats, not only on a fantastic album, but the fact that it keeps climbing slowly up the charts of all time best albums on the Prog Archives. I realize that it's still early in the life cycle of the CD, but 43 of the 51 people gave it five stars, including everyone who took the time to accompany the review with a rating. Strong work Phideaux. ------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |