Artist: Phil Western
Title: Laborandum
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: 8th June 2012
Label: Rustblade
Album Review
PHIL WESTERN, whom you might know or not from working with Cevin Key as DOWNLOAD or a collaborator of SKINNY PUPPY for quite some time, has always been very talented programmer when it comes to electronic music. Add to it a keen love for the weird and then you'll get a guess of what's awaiting you. The opening to 'Laborandum' is '303' which in this case is sort of a minimal techno track, whereas minimal is applied to the beat section only. All above and beyond it creaks, bleeps and screeches. Melodies form and vanish; others are taking their place. Very colourful indeed. 'Ke Bop Bop' is not Phil meets Reggae; the song's retaining a contemplative mood from start to finish while giving it slices of post rock influences to add a nice colour. 'I Roll The Nickels' features a very well-known sample off of one of the most regarded SKINNY PUPPY songs, and just to make you listen, I won't say which one.
'Angels' is the first actually slow track you'll encounter on the album, submerged in walls of ambience and electronic trickery hidden underneath. Just have to give it a shot. 'Dark Star' is as ominous a track as its name suggests. Even the tiniest bass line meandering throughout the monotonously pounding beat injects a feeling of menace with the listener that is never resolved as long as the track is running, which is actually a good thing. Yes 'Gobble Gobble' is a track title, and as you'd expect, the sounds in it are of the weird kind. Counterpoint the rhythm, add just a tiny little bit of melody and in the aftermath leaves with the unfair task of finding the right words to describe it. The closing ceremony o f a mixed bag of styles is being held by '7 Years', a genuine trip hop/ambient track for a sunny afternoon. You should be a little more open-minded to be fully able to enjoy this album. If you already are, or think you can be, this will be a rewarding journey for you.
Tracklist
01. 303
02. Ke Bop Bop
03. I Roll The Nickels
04. Angels
05. Dark Star
06. The Sign
07. Shoehorn
08. Gooble Gobble
09. Poop
10. 7 Years
Line-up
Phil Western
Website
https://www.facebook.com/phillipwestern
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 8.5 / 10
