Beekstraat 1 - B-2640 Mortsel - Belgium

PHIDEAUX: 313

Release

Style

Phideaux is comprised of two guys, songwriter Phideaux Xavier and drummer Rich Hutchins. I had honestly never heard of this recording project until a pack of 3 CDs landed in the Prog-Nose mailbox. Their music can be considered as funny, serious, inventive and varied. The genre is a combination of classic rock, space folk and, certainly, progressive rock. Placing this music in one category is difficult. But it has been said many times before…”As long as the music is good, there’s no need to categorize it”!

You notice the quality of the production from the very first note. The voice of Xavier sounds a bit like Billy Joel. What I find especially nice are the background choir and the fantastic harmonies. Musically speaking, I’d say that this project is comparable to Little Atlas. Other noticeable influences include The Electric Light Orchestra, Cockney Rebel, T-Rex, Hawkwind and David Bowie.  You sometimes get that 70s feel like you also got with Brainpool: Junk. All the songs are very melodic. The short songs are easy to listen to and are well constructed. Instrumentally speaking, they sound very professional. The sparse yet sublime guitar solos and keyboard solos sound wonderfully fresh. The exchange between slow and faster songs brings the album into balance. 

For those who would like to try something different from the familiar and well travelled path, then this album could be a revelation for you. And if you like very strong vocal artistry, then ‘313’ is the one for you as well.  Let’s be extra clear… this is good music with good vocals. When listening to this CD, you can let yourself be carried away because this ‘symphony’ of ‘harmony’ sounds excellent.

Musicians

Phideaux Xavier: guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals
Richard Hutchins: drums, percussion
Ariel Farber: vocals
Valerie Gracious: vocals
Julie Hair: bass, voice, percussion, paper
Gabriel Moffat: guitar, bass, textures, protools
Molly Ruttan-Moffat: drum, vocals
Linda Ruttan-Moldawsky: vocals
Mark Sherkus: keyboards, synths, electric guitar

1. Friction (1992)
2. Fiendish (2004)
3. Ghost Story (2004)
4. Chupacabras (2005)
5. 313 (2006)
6. The Great Leap (2006)
7. Doomsday Afternoon (?)

Website in order to promote progressive rock to a broader audience in Flanders but also in the entire world. No part from this website may be used in any other publication whether in print or on the world wide web without the editor's consent - all material is exclusive to Prog-Nose and copyright protected.

Last updated: 13 april 2006 .
All rights reserved. Copyright © Prog-Nose 30/05/2001.