Ex-pat British singer/ songwriter PHIL SHOENFELT is based in Prague, and - at least on the basis of "Ecstatic" - is vastly under-exposed in the western media.
Because "Ecstatic" is one of those fine, grown up rock records that comes in from the cold every now and then and sorta smoulders in its' own brilliance. On being handed my promo copy, I was told it would be up my alley (correct), with discussed reference points including The Stooges and Swans: also correct, but only a small fraction of the story here.
Indeed, Shoenfelt writes darkly affecting, and often surprisingly romantic songs, and "Ecstatic" presents 10 of them in a beautifully sequenced order. Vocally, he reminds this writer a little of Iggy (in his croonsome moments circa "Blah Blah Blah"), or maybe Michael Gira in his Children of God guise, but his rich voice is nicely evocative in its' own right, and his commanding presence ensures every drop of emotion is wrung out of these songs.
Shoenfelt's band SOUTHERN CROSS, meantime, play with fire to spare throughout. Sometimes they rock, with songs like the chilly, but catchy "Magdalena" and the slytalking "Twisted" not dissimilar to earlier, Will Sargeant - shaped Bunnymen, while - at a separate tangent - "The Spirit & The Flesh" rattles with the vivid and determined economy of The Bad Seeds.
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Phil ain't afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, either. In fact, in "Don't Look Down" and "Waiting 4U" - probably the album's two tenderest moments - he hits peaks of achievement. The former (to these muddled ears) reminds of Crime & The City Solution in their more pastoral moments, while the wistful, loss-ridden lyrical theme of "Waiting 4U" is undeniable. The fact that it's immediately usurped by the bitter, hard-riffing "Wasted Life" only adds to its' charm.
Just to ensure we're in no doubt of their talent, they sign off with the dramatic, strings and slide guitar-soaked majesty of "The Streets Tonight": a moving, part-spoken confessonal in the Nick Cave mould, which explodes back into fiery life as you think it's fading out.
"Ecstatic" is a finely-wrought, vividly-written and passionately created album, which (if there's any justice) ought to be the introductory door for far more potential listeners in both West and East. A consistently impressive piece of work by anyone's standards.
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