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Reviews & Press
Here are some
kind words which people have said about us and our music. They
don’t owe us money or anything . . .
Psi
Phi "Powers of Three"
"The faux-vinyl scratchings that bookend each side of Psi
Phi's third album Powers Of Three is 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 hardly the pinnacle of the album, by
conjuring up memories of Seattle Grungers Pearl Jam its yet
another spanner in the works for a music 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. There are no
ridiculous out of place Hammond solos or ambient noise sections
that just drag on and on and on... (Yes that's right Pink Floyd,
I'm talking about Echoes!). 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 sneaky 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, May 2008
PSi
PHi release their third excellent album.
"Psi Phi
have now completed the re-mastering and release of their long
awaited third album entitled ‘Powers Of Three’. It is
of course excellent and very recognisable as a product from the
band for those who know their previous material in terms of
production, material and sound.
Pod maintains his masterful control over guitar riffs, chords and
colours, Andy delivers both funk and rock in equal measures on
bass whilst Rob maintains his tight, effective and
non-predictable drum lines to drive everything forward cleanly
and rhythmically; all without muddying the crunch of the overall
product.
This album is presented as a pseudo 2 sided style record, with
“Side One” composed of individual tracks whist
“Side Two” goes down the suited Prog Rock type
delivery.
The delay in the release of the album was due to the necessary
priority changes within the band encompassing other personal
projects but throughout it all Psi Phi have continued to maintain
a gigging presence as a band. They entered into mutual gig
arrangements with a number of bands to exploit additional gigs,
including one Oliver Wakeman for a few of the gigs. The band are
now out and about actively promoting their recent product.
Their previous album ‘Circles’ obtained a fair amount
of independent radio play. Please check out our Artists page for
more info about this excellent album and outfit and their output
to date. There are also some tasters of their tracks on our Media
page.
Don’t forget to check out their web site at www.psiphi.co.uk
for samples of their music (well worth a listen 'cos you will end
up buying the album), their forthcoming gigs, join their mailing
list, or, if you've nothing better to do, invent and submit
captions for their many and varied photos."
Pete
Bangert, Rising Records, June 2008
Live
at 'The Devonshire Jam'
"Psi Phi
- out and out rock band this one. The bass player must get the
prize for the most obvious T-shirt, with the message
“I’m in a band” emblazoned across his chest. As
with Colourpool the space allowed by the three piece set up gave
clarity to the sound allowing the vocals to cut through. You can
guess the background and influences of these guys though with
song titles such as “Ragnar Rock & Roll” and
“She Rocks” (not about a photocopier then?) and the
lyrics that go with them, definitely old school rock. The whole
feeling of Psi Phi was a notch or two above everything that had
gone before, atmospheric in the quiet bits, heavy in the loud
bits, plenty of riffing guitar, powerful chords, doubled guitar
and bass runs, all carried off in a tighter than a very tight
thing manner with some screaming soloing. Proper rock band."
Richard N
& Jack Tractor, Sandman Magazine, July 2004
Live
at ‘Rotherham Rocks’
“Next onto the Rotherham stage, Sheffield trio Psi Phi
entertained us all with a heavier sound. Now, Psi Phi have a
reputation for being one of the worst dressed rock bands around,
but for tonight the James Bond type suits complete with bow-ties
took everyone by surprise. The non-keyboard straightforward rock
in your face approach worked very well, and the impressive bass
playing from Andy Scott along with the tight drumming from Rob
Glynn made them an enjoyable act visually and musically. Opening
with A Million Flies, they had the crowd with their full
attention, and with other songs such as Crazy, Science Fiction
and set closer She Rocks, the sound was like an early type Rush
mixed with The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. With two albums to their
credit, there is a nice touch to their sound, and it was an
impressive set they performed.”
Danny Mayo
, Hairless Heart Herald, May 2004
Psi Phi
"Circles"
“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
Psi Phi
"Welcome To Earth"
“With a new album, 'Circles', on the way and sounding very
good and another CRS appearance on 12th April 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
Live
at Herringthorpe Leisure Centre, Rotherham
“Next were PSi PHi (pronounced Sci-Fi), who were a wonderful
surprise! Only three musicians but Andy Scott, bass/vocals,
'Pod', lead guitar/vocals and Rob Glynn drums, delivered many
rich imaginative, powerful songs with quality vocals. Loud and
proud from first song Ragnarok’n’Roll, through the
Sabbath-style guitar of Change to the superb Science Fiction,
where Andy used his voice instrumentally on backing vocals. My
favourite was a song inspired by the 1999 eclipse called Dark
Day, which had magnificent Rush-style guitar circa Test For Echo,
a real treat! Lowering the pace and volume PSi PHi gave us a
beautiful instrumental, amusingly called Waiting For The Words,
with intricate interplay between bass and lead, plus classy
soaring-guitar breaks. Next we had some commercial edged songs
like Where Did The Good Times Go and Another Love Song, (an
obvious single), . . . A catchy I Don't Want No-One Else ended
the set to enthusiastic applause.”
02.03.02
Reproduced by kind permission of Classic Rock
“[ PsiPhi ] are responsible for perpetrating an extremely
intelligent, varied and talented form of rock and give genuine
entertainment on all levels - that of course includes their
attempts at [ enraging ] the fashion police.They are a 3 piece
band that fills sound like a 5 piece, due to intelligent and
varied arrangements of well crafted songs. Those people fortunate
enough to catch them [ in concert ] will know what I mean.
“Their debut album, 'Welcome to Earth' a 10 track CD
released in 2001, was produced by PSi PHi on 8 track. Again the
sound is much larger than one would expect from such humble
facilities. Skillfully done lads! The content is inventive and
satisfying (not in a hamburger way of course) and constitutes a
great opener for the band.
“More recently PSi PHi have taken time off from giging to
concentrate on the finalisation and impending release of their
second album. We understand this has been produced on much
superior equipment and we eagerly await a copy.”
Pete
Bangert, Label Manager, Rising Records
“Terrible
name, terrible clothes, this lot looked like they'd borrowed all
of Shaggy out of Scooby Doo's wardrobe.
“Psi Phi are purveyors of classic rock with catchy tunes,
some singalong and a bit poppy (though I'm sure they'll hate me
for saying that). This doesn't prevent them from becoming
positively powerchordtastic at times - rather marvellously so.
“Their songs covered everything from Norse mythology to
bedroom music. Highlight was Crazy, a hands in the air, finger
pointy, poodle hair song; lowlight was a sub-Embrace number,
possibly called 'Keep on loving you'.
“These guys played with a lot of joy. Not cool, certainly
not fashionable, but very good fun.”
by BBC
South Yorkshire's Linnie Rawlinson
(And the funny thing is, we're told she was actually
there!)
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