I'd love to know what goes on in Brighton's Luke Philips's head. He's been involved in around 30 albums over the past decade, largely under pseudonyms and his own solo banner. ICEBEING has been a thing and releasing throughout that decade, but this sounds the best example of what is intended and achieved.
You all know how we love intelligent left field Pop. especially when it is left field, daring and inventive. Elf Music is just that. We also love Psych Pop and this is very much in that area, at times a little Toytown at others more Psych, but there are also great moments of Pop Rock, encompassing everything from the 60s to the 90s.
Its heart is possibly more in the second half of the 60s, but Phillips takes proceedings everywhere with unexpected twists and turns in individual songs and just as you can compare certain bits to the likes of Orgone Box, early T. Rex, Medway and what has been going on in Oz over the same time, the album is also unlike anything else that is around.
You, Looking A Gift Horse In The Mouth may be the best Toytown that I've heard for years, yet Wooze Continued sounds more Brit Pop for the majority, but still manages to burst out into incredible Psych. The whole thing is a relegation.
It is Retro, but also nods at the now. I like the album when it gets weirder and it does this at will without ever losing sight of the melody and the sheer catchiness on show. It may go off on mind blowing tangents, but always returns to the beauty.
Elf Music took three and a half years to make, probably because of all of Phillips's other project. He is also aided by Eve Morris's Flutes and Recorders and Harry Morris on Oboe on Woodwind on the magnificent Inside Bells which add Baroque Pop to the mix. Elf Music is magnificent, an album to be listened to from start to finish and then put on again.
/p>
You can listen to and buy the album here. It also has limited Vinyl run which you can buy here.
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