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Shawn Phillips - Transcendence CD (album) cover

TRANSCENDENCE

Shawn Phillips

 

Prog Related

4.00 | 4 ratings

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Heart of the Matter
4 stars Good old Shawn is an american guitarist, singer and composer who made his career as a recording artist in the UK, so you may easily find some West Coast imprint in his vocals. But, wait a fair second: isn't that enough for stamping the infamous "non-prog stuff" label all over his output?. Well, no, and if you follow me for a few lines more I'll tell you why.

First, l concede that the opener is a West Coast flavored song, and that the 2nd track steams with its electro-funk charged groove (delicious, but hardly prog stuff). But, after that, if you are still in for this, Shawn delivers the goods. Take for example:

03 Implications: Harmonizing with himself, our guy is in his element here, i.e., interweaving an ethereal, richly shaded tapestry of vocal perfection.

06 Lament Pour L'enfant Mort: Vocals full of dramatism and dynamic expansion, served over sensible and indescriptibly beautiful piano arrangement.

08 Motes Of Dust: At first glance, a smooth song and little else, but to the careful ear, the gateway to a soaring, atmospheric orchestral arrangement full of captivating tension in the harmonic and vocal intervals.

The prog is there, although not in the obvious manner

Heart of the Matter | 4/5 |

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