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Powers Of
Three (2007)
Tracks :
"Side
One": All Fall Down; Masterplan ; Elemental; Crow Flies
East; "Side Two": Argument
|| Hear a sample aperitif edit of "Elemental" - click here||
|| Buy a copy ||
"The faux-vinyl scratchings that bookend each side of Psi Phi's third album Powers Of Three are very misleading. While there is a certain amount of influence from the Old Masters here it isn't exactly central. By fusing most overtly an essence of Test For Echo era Rush with a somewhat unique blend of Alternative Rock and Funk the Sheffield three piece have created some kind of unpronounceable hybrid genre.
For a power trio, Psi Phi have really excelled in order to create this series of brilliantly crafted complex Rock tracks. While there are no lapses in the quality of musicianship on display Andy Scott's creatively inserted virtuoso basslines are particularly deserving of praise, by inserting slaps and pops in the most unexpected of places tracks such as Hard Rock anthem All Fall Down or the sharp, spacious contrast of Masterplan really showcase the benefits. Elemental is perhaps the most interesting of the songs on the first half, avante-garde and think-outside-the-box without losing the accesssability that can only be acheived through a strong sing-a-long chorus.
Crow Flies East is darker and more confined than any of its counterparts, dominated by Pod's moody vocals and haunting arpeggio riffing. While not the pinnacle of the album, by conjuring up memories of Seattle Grungers Pearl Jam it's yet another spanner in the works for a record shop employee attempting to place Powers Of Three under the appropriate genre.
The second half of the CD is dominated by the 20 minute Argument suite; however all connotations of a pretentious, overblown Progressive Rock epic should be quickly dismissed ........ Instead the suite is very much a continuation of the style established on the first side of the album, except this time they've glued it all together and built in a hazy storyline. Of course even when you try your very best to convince the Anti-Prog Brigade that this is literally a topographic ocean away from the movement's '70s heyday chances are they won't believe you. So Psi Phi came up with the rather smart idea of seperating Argument into seperate tracks. Art Rock fan? A 20 minute journey through Alterno-Prog Paradise. Commercial Rock enthusiast? 8 wonderful shorter songs that work just as well sliced up.
Powers Of Three stands for a sneeky laugh behind the backs of anyone who thought Arctic Monkeys were at the forefront of cutting edge creativity in the Sheffield music scene. Proudly ambitious Geek Rock that's actually enjoyable to listen to, for the third time in a row Psi Phi have delivered the passion, the poison, the fury and the fun.
A firm 9/10 effort." - Jordan Smith - online review - March 2008
Circles
(2003)
Tracks :
A Million
Flies ; I Rise ; Crazy ; Take Back The World ; Change Comes Round
; Four Seasons ; Chimes for Jamie ; Circles ; Sorry ; She Rocks
|| Download a ringtone-sized mp3 edit of "Crazy" - click here!||
“You
might not know too much about South Yorkshire based Psi Phi
except that they have played for the CRS a few times. Well this
is nothing short of a superb album for all those who love guitar
driven rock in the area of say, Wishbone Ash, for a
straightforward comparison. Having said that guitarist, Pod,
reminds me a lot of former Climax Blues Band guitarist Pete
Haycock, a guitarist who could rock and be as gentle as you like
too. The guitar breaks are truly sumptuous - even when Pod
performs an acoustic solo, 'Chimes For Jamie'. The lead vocals
work a treat and are shared by Pod and bass man Andy Scott; their
harmonies aren't bad either. The trio is completed by drummer Rob
Glynn. As a unit Psi Phi eclipse much of the mainstream rock
music I hear today, let alone some of those at the underground
level. In Pod, Psi Phi have a guitarist who is as good as you
will hear and I am more than pleased to blow the trumpet for them
- not that they need any more instrumentation than they've got.
Here are ten great songs from a band that deserve much more
exposure.”
Martin
Hudson - Classic Rock Society Magazine - March 2004
Welcome
To Earth (2001)
Tracks :
Ragnarok ‘n’ Roll ; Another Lovesong ; Science Fiction
; Forever and a Day ; Waiting for the Words ; I Don’t Want
No-One Else ; Dark Day ; Right Place, Wrong Time ; Looking-Glass
War ; Where did the Good Times Go?
|| For a tangy audio sample of "Ragnarok'n'Roll" - click here||
“It is a good time to reflect on this 2001 release by the
Sheffield three piece. They are in fact a band that have been
high up the Best New Band list for the past two years and it must
be time for them to move on.
“In Pod they have a superb guitarist/vocalist and the rhythm
section of Andy Scott on bass/vocals and Rob Glynn on drums are
as good as you will hear. It's obviously all very guitar driven
and for those who have shied away from the Deadline organised
'Primed' evenings now is the time to correct matters and take in
some new bands.
“This is what might be termed clean and straight rock played
by three musicians at the top of their trade if not the top of
the billboards. There are some fine vocal harmonies, not a lot of
light years away from that of say Wishbone Ash, while some of the
guitar work has a similar fix but you might hear a leaning
towards the Allman Brothers (Waiting For The Words) now and then.
A great album that you might have missed - in fact you probably
did miss. “
Martin
Hudson
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