Phil Western "The Escapist" Map Records MAP204-2 1998 (73:55)
Hampi (5:50)
No Help (2:55)
Pleasures Gained (5:29)
Last Moments (2:46)
Maruti (4:05)
Poison (2:24)
Flashback (1:32)
Mourning (6:02)
I No Really (3:41)
Sun is Round (6:42)
Kent the Fly (5:31)
Full Moon (12:33)
Getting Old (7:07)
Stay Clean (7:17)
Music by Phil Western (voice, guitar, keyboards, drums, production) with Chris Hill (bassonics, guitar), Michael Louw (flute, ukelele, violin, percussion), Dan Handrabur (violin) and Barb Kennedy (vocals). Tim "Rim" Hill (additional production), Fu Valcic (moral support).
Overall impression: excellent! Phil Western (aka DJ Philth) is probably best known as 1/3 of Download and Plateau, 1/2 of Landhip and Off and Gone, and 1 of Cap'm Stargazer ... but on this disc, he's just Phil Western. Although elements of his other projects can be found here and there, this album is much different. "The Escapist" has a very organic feel, very lush and textured (like all of Map Records wonderful releases), but the use of "real" instruments and the buried vocals (on 3 or 4 songs) adds much to the otherwise predominantly electronic sound. The album is heavy on soulful groove and mesmerizing, hypnotic textures and melodies ... I haven't heard an album like this in years. A very welcome addition to my "IDM" overrun collection. I especially enjoy "Hampi", "Pleasures Gained", "Mourning" (Phil must really like this track because this is this 3rd time he's used it - see also Cap'm Stargazer "Mourning" on the "Welcome to Lotus Land" compilation and "Purple Passion" on Plateau's "Music for Grassbars"), "I No Really" (clever use of surgery conversation samples), "Sun is Round", "Full Moon" (a 12 minute + krautrock-like trance), "Getting Old" and "Stay Clean" ... oh wait, I've just listed most of the tracks as my favorites ... there's a reason for that! "The Escapist" shows just how incredibly talented Phil and friends are. It's only July, and I already know that of the hundreds of cds I'm probably going to buy this year, "The Escapist" is going to make my top 10 of the year list. Be sure to visit the Map Records page to check it out for yourself via real audio of the entire album ...