Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

The PHX - Ex Cinera

11/4/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
​The PHX

Ex Cinera
self-released; 2016

3.7 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Justin Matthews (guitar/vocals), Rich Schneider (drums/synths/samples) and Frank Swarm (guitar/vocals) are PHX. Matthews and Schneider have been loosely playing together since 1996. Swarm later came on board to fill out the rest of the lineup. They recently released Ex Cinera.

Before we get into the music we need to get a little into the production and recording quality. There are a lot of high frequencies happening with this recording (especially the guitars). So much so that it's nearly impossible to crank this music without your ears immediately ringing. I would have liked to hear a little more mid-range and low end and some of the higher frequencies shaved off. That being said the lo-fi nature of the recording works quite well and I enjoyed the tasteful use of reverb and balance.

Musically, I was most impressed by the band's sound. It’s a bit scattered at times but when the band melds genres and gets it right it’s very impressive. I was reminded of disparate artists from NIN to No Age. 

The album is on the long side with twelve fleshed out songs. Their music has a lot of punk influence. Punk albums are notoriously known for being relatively short. I feel like this album may have benefited from a bit more brevity. Nine or ten songs may have been a little more powerful.

They open with “Blackout” which is an aggressive song with a good amount of distortion and hard-hitting drums. The best part on this song is where the band pulls off something unexpected. Take for instance the two-minute mark on ”Blackout.” The band unexpectedly goes into an industrial, ambient section. This was a great move and got my attention.

It is these moments that are scattered on the LP that make it worthwhile, from the Primal Scream-esque hip-hop sounding “Broken Halo” to the slower moving yet captivating “Homeostasis.” The conventional songs that more or less stick to one style aren’t as effective. 

I can say it almost never works when a band jumps from genre to genre on an album. For example one song sounds like reggae the other is R&B. What does work is when bands seamlessly merge styles like PHX has done with some success .

​
Ex Cinera is far from perfect and it takes some effort but there are certainly some rewards for those who are willing to take the journey
soundcloud
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact