Album Details

• Artist: Shane Philip
• Album: Live At Baker Studios
• Label: Indie
• Year of Release: 2009
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2010-01-21

"Live at Baker Studios" is a Voodoo ceremony for one. Shane Philip, often with no more than a guitar or drum, evokes odd and slippery monsters, inner demons mostly. While sometimes he tries too hard, this is a hip but honest trip. As usual, it is the stripped down groove that saves the day.

"Breakdown" is  a jarring, acoustic guitar driven funk tune, with a slight but sexy swampy feel. That feel continues through the delta slide of "Stranded. " "Triple Shot" is a bongo/ didgeridoo rhytyhm fest-but in a good way!

"Secret Garen" is one of a handful of instrumentals and the best; it  is a moody swap blues that strikes a raw nerve, and sounds as if it were created with one. "Web of Fear"may be the first acoustic Black Sabbath song.

"Sky Dance,"  "Plasctic Bags" and "Insomnia" are examples of where this style runs off the rails, being too jittery and overly-kooky enough to suggest a deliberate attempt at being odd. Don't worry, bro, you're already there.

"Live at Baker's Studio" is a raw slab of rhythm that more often than not makes you dance, if a bit uneasily. Shane Philips has a singular talent, one that for the most part, he trusts to let do its thing. 

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