Phideaux Xavier is one of the most interesting and exciting characters in the current American progressive rock scene. Although he doesn’t get the attention he deserves, he has been making consistently good music for a few years. The album reviewed here is a promo sampler, Phideaux & Mogon Promotional Issue featuring music from Phideaux Xavier’s two bands, Phideaux and Mogon.
The Phideaux sound brings the best in progressive rock and classic rock. Phideaux Xavier’s idiosyncratic singing style feels at home in a progressive rock context, although his engaging voice also reminds me of the great classic rock singer-songwriters and even David Bowie. The group’s style is characterized by a mix of 1970s progressive rock influences, including echoes of Jethro Tull, Camel and Pink Floyd, as well as harder rock guitar moments that recall Neil Young and even Jimi Hendrix.
Phideaux Xavier is not the only outstanding vocalist featured in the band’s albums. Phideaux also includes several superb female vocalists, Valerie Gracious, Linda Ruttan – Moldawsky and Molly Ruttan, who contribute a rich diversity of vocal nuances.
The core line-up includes Phideaux Xavier on acoustic guitar, piano, vocals; Ariel Farber on vocals, violin; Rich Hutchins on drums; Mathew Kennedy on bass guitar; Gabriel Moffat on electric guitar; Valerie Gracious on vocals; Molly Ruttan on vocals, metal percussion; Linda Ruttan – Moldawsky on vocals; Mark Sherkus on keyboards; and Johnny Unicorn on keyboards, saxophone, vocals.
“We love classic guitar, quirky keyboards, beautiful vocals, heavy drums and occasional musical trickery; tragic, doomy, serious, silly, pretentious songs that you can hum!,” says the band. “Each of our albums present a different side, a separate piece of the puzzle, but they all contain soundscapes for those who love to listen beneath the surface.”
The great epic in this sampler is the live version of the piece titled ‘Chupacabras,’ which is dedicated to the mythical goat-sucking creature that was first seen in Puerto Rico and has now been sighted in Mexico and other parts of the American continent.
Mogon is Phideaux Xavier’s new band. Although it has close connections to the Phideaux sound, I find that it has more of a laid back psychedelic-space rock feel, with tasty mellotron and soaring guitars as well as some unexpected arrangement with trumpets. “Mogon is my next band, and it will be a more minimalist project containing a rotating cast of characters,” says Phideaux Xavier. “You might say it is a fractal of Phideaux in the sense that it contains all the members of Phideaux, but not necessarily all at the same time.”
I look forward to exploring the full Phideaux and Mogon albums. He has excellent material out there and this sampler is just a small taste.
Phideaux’s discography includes Fiendish (2003), Ghost Story (2004), Chupacabras (2005), 313 (2006), The Great Leap (2006), Doomsday Afternoon (2007), Number Seven (2009), Snowtorch (2011), 7½ (2011) and Infernal (2012).
The sampler is available at: phideaux.bandcamp.com/album/phideaux-mogon-promotional-issue