The incredible Zach Phillips I discovered through the indelible Alice Cohen. With a remarkably beautiful cover by Annie Loucka (and an equally fascinating back cover by Robert Beatty); this great album Mr. Phillips' wrote, performed, and produced himself. This progressive pop album boasts an impressive 22 tracks of complex, almost third-wave influenced, jazz infused songsmithing with a long roster of collaborators.
The album's opening track "Starblind" begins with lyrics from the classic "Last Dance with Mary Jane" by Tom Petty albeit with some amazing shred guitar workouts by David Givhan (along with vocals) and sparse instrumentation almost reminiscent of Talk Talk's Laughingstock album. Zach Phillips is one nasty arranger. The album is formatted with narrations to seem like a radio show; brilliant.
The album's second track "Know What?" has sparkling vocals by Genevieve Artadi and complex, mellow jazz guitar. Again, more beautiful soloing. Excellent drum tones and clever lyrics. There is a palpable surrealist element to Phillip's themes and motifs.
Carry the One is a shreddy bossa-nova with some very cool meter in the vocals singing "stair at the sun/carry the one". The guitar tone is smooth and memorable. The album itself is rife with endearing polyrhythms. Lots of tracks even seem orchestrated in 12/8 time (the universal time signature).
When I Go Live is a beautiful ballad with another one of the album's signature gorgeous guitar solos. The lyrics are sumptuous and the trombone work is endearing and smooth. The album's guitar chord voicings are all and all unstoppably fresh. While the album is steeped in more traditional jazz, Zach Phillips throws out the rule book and starts anew with his own take on progressive composition.
Unmistakable takes the jazz pop form in an almost hard fusion direction. The record has some great drum and percussion work. Just Call The Fool has a beautiful rhythm and a modern classical edge, featuring Alice Cohen's wonderful vocals and organ solo. Ten Days has some really cool jazz harmonies and some speedy keyboard runs. The album itself has a vast array of different instruments including live electronics, electric piano, synthesizer, saxophone, trumpet, and flute. Lectric Sled has some really unpredictable chord changes and some big guitars.
This is really a modern benchmark in jazz pop. I had a really great time listening. The variety on this album makes for a very fun listen.
For fans of progressive bossa nova, third stream "jazz", progressive pop, smooth grooves, Prefab Sprout fans, the Galtta Media universe of stars (Alice Cohen, Adrian Knight, Blue Jazz TV, Billy G. Robinson, Max Zuckerman, etc.), Gaucho era Steely Dan, late era Talk Talk, vocal jazz, and anyone looking for something fresh.
YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE ALBUM ON BANDCAMP BY CLICKING HERE!!!
