Philip Bell
Southern Skies
Review (Original Dutch)
Review (English)
"I'm so happy to discuss this first album by Philip Bell.
Before I go into detail, first let's get to the facts. He was born in Liverpool England, but now lives in Torquay, Devon (formerly). He is a big fan of rock and blues, especially in the style of Led Zeppelin, but also quite obviously influenced by various other rock-like music styles and pop influences from the sixties.
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"He started playing guitar at an early age and has gained years of experience in countless cover and tribute bands. He says this was a valuable learning experience. Guitarists like Joe Bonamassa, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Gary Moore have influenced him. Although this is somewhat evident, he definitely has his own sound. His guitar playing indeed conveys a great deal of experience due to its virtuosity and technique.
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"The preparations for this debut album started three years ago. He wanted to write, arrange and produce an album using his home studio. All instruments on this album were played by him. Initially, the drums were programmed by Phil with the idea of ​​creating a "real" organic sound, comparable to a rock drummer. Eventually, he abandoned that idea and the drums were performed by producer/multi instrumentalist, SiGGy. These drum track recordings, production and final mix were done at SiGGy’s studio in Newton Abbot, Devon in England.
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"The album is quite diverse in music. Everything has a rock, blues, occasionally a pop 'feel'. The album opens with the sturdy “Let's Pretend”, a very heavy riff, which after a few bars is laid a tight solo. Good voice, pleasing rhythm, delicious long solo: the ultimate opening number and taste of things to come. “Miss You”, let's us take a moment; a ballad about a relationship that threatens to end. The guitar playing is hot and sensitive. At number three is the very catchy “So What”, melodic, with a very English 'sixties' characteristic. “Got To Have It All , has a Led Zeppelin feel; again that wonderful guitar playing that ranges from soft acoustic to heavy electric. The next number is the same feel “Promised Land”: hard rock!
We have arrived at the title song, namely “Southern Skies” that begins and ends with a beautiful 'free-form guitar', interspersed with straight rock, . Beautiful, nice long track!
With “Dark Passenger”, “Deceiver” and “Going Down”, we are rocking until we get to the beautiful instrumental, “Mississippi Lullaby”, where he plays the acoustic and electric guitar masterfully. The album ends with “Penitentiary Blues” a lingering roaring blues.
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"I asked him if there were any plans for performances and in his opinion he is sure, as he is now busy with auditions. Or, whether and when it’s Holland’s turn, he could not say yet. But trust me, that is just a matter of time. In that respect, it is important to keep an eye on the Calendar in Blues Magazine, just like Philip Bell himself. We'll hear more from him!"
Jarl Westerouen van Meeteren
(For Blues Magazine, May 2017.)
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About
Hometown:
Liverpool, UK
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Genre:
Rock, Blues.
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Label/Management:
RoofSpace Records/MuffinFunk
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Current Location:
Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
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Gear:
Fender Guitars and Basses, Ozark Resonators and Banjos
Marshall/Blackstar Amps.
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Recording: Profilers, Modellers, (Boss, Logic), Tascam/Logic
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Live: Marshall Blackstar. EH, Boss
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Philip Bell is a Rock/Blues guitarist originally from Liverpool, now living in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland. A writer of authentic, rock and blues tunes, with a firm grasp on the giants of yesteryear: an eclectic mix of musical influences firmly rooted in everything from a Led Zeppelinesque hard rock blues to a swampy-country- southern-psychedelic-vibe to unashamed Rock/Blues power ballads, Phil covers all the rock/blues bases.
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Busking and gigging for many years, Phil, was performing original material, learning his musical trade and developing ideas, honing the songs that would be destined to be on the album. The thread running throughout is a love for all forms of guitar music. "I can only say that the songs were written from my point of view, as a fan, inspired by the music I love to listen to."
Because, like everything else musically that he's done, it comes from a real place.
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The remarkable thing about the album Southern Skies is that it was written, recorded and produced at RoofSpace Studios, Torquay, in the attic of an unassuming family home. Phil says, “I set myself a challenge to see if I could record an album, given the constraints of a home recording setup. I wanted to create something that would stand up as a commercial quality release.” He may have just pulled it off.
Sessions for the album began in August 2013. They finally ended three years later, in the Summer of 2016. Initially these sessions took place part time amidst the responsibilities of full time work commitments, as he is an experienced music tutor, and a teacher trainer, a career spanning 30 years.
In collaboration with local music producer and multi instrumentalist, Phil worked with SiGGy who provided the drum tracks to the already recorded guitars, bass and vocals, in the early spring of 2016.
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“Southern Skies” is stylistically varied within the genre of Rock/Blues. There's a definite familiarity to the material on this album They have a "heard that before" vibe.; like your favourite pair of shoes. A very firm tipping of the “Old School” cap one might say!
