SHANE PHILIP • LIVE AT BAKER STUDIOS (INDIE)
For his fourth release, Vancouver’s Shane Philip decided to take a break from the road after a year of live touring to record this album straight off the ?oor without any overdubs or looping in one marathon nine-hour session followed by mixdowns the next day. Philip serves at times as a virtual one-man band on Live At Baker Studios, performing on a wide series of instruments that ranges from lap guitars to the didgeridoo. The overall feel here is trance-like at times, with the drones created by his fondness for open tunings combining with vocals that move from whispered folkie confessionals to emphatic blues-based pronouncements under a constant wash of reverb. Endearingly and refreshingly uncontrived. Well worth checking out. – Rod Nicholson
Performance: B+/Production: B+