*. Phideaux .*

Album: Phideaux & Mogon Promotional Issue (2012)
Genre: Prog Rock (Crossover Prog)  /  USA

Doomsday Afternoon is Phideaux's masterpiece, and so it was cool to hear the edited version of "Thank You for the Evil" that opens this promotional piece. "Cupacabras" is also one of Phideaux's greatest songs, and I appreciate being able to hear a live version of it here. It has a different introduction from the studio version, fusing "Okay" with a later segment of the piece. Amazingly, it rivals the original- well done. This release includes three tracks from the forthcoming album 7½, presumably at least a titular response to 2009's Number Seven. One of those tracks is "Out of the Angry Planet," which the band plays live. I predict that 7½ will be a very strong release, because it contains both the accessible songwriting Phideaux has grown proficient with as well as the symphonic nature exhibited in Snowtorch. There are jarring shifts of rhythm and folk elements that make me think of Jethro Tull's A Passion Play. This release concludes with something different, two tracks from a separate project called Mogon. Mogon was a god worshipped in Gaul and Britannia. A part of this is his voice, but frankly I don't hear much of a variance between Mogon and Phideaux. The music is stripped-down, but the sound and chord structures are very similar. There is a blend of psychedelic music in the vein of Pink Floyd and the bulk of "Snuff" sounds like a tribute to early symphonic King Crimson. "The Chairs" is a dark, space rock song with organ and Mellotron, somewhat similar to "Snuff." 
Review by "Windhawk" (Prog Archives).

RATING:  9.5 / 10   *Best Band in Today's Activity*

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