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Phonic Request – Skulls & Bones (Hypergate Records)
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Pt.
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
236
Posts :
6106
Posted : Jul 18, 2009 05:15:08
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So here we go, another album promising full power without a shower that’s supposed to be sleek and pretty damn naughty. The artwork done by Meskalart is Skulls & Bones in front of some kind of mechanical device of propulsion, sort of animalistic in rawness that I guess suits the music inside. Wilfried, the musical artist behind Phonic Request was born in France in the year 1977. As a teenager his love of Rock’n’Roll rapidly led him to play the guitar. He trained day and night and his hard work began to pay off as his skills grew. He then ventured out to play in an Acid-Jazz band which played with the other side of sound but music. In his own research of novelty, he put aside the guitar and started to tweak sounds on computers and came to the conclusion that he wanted to produce Electronic music instead of plinging the guitar. He has now been composing trance oriented tracks since the year 2004, so now in 2009 an experienced composer by the name Wilfried Decaesteker is more than ready to show us the extent of his talents in sonic alchemy by delivering his second album Skulls & Bones, which is released on the Portuguese based label Hypergate Records. Phonic Request, as his project has been named, constantly chases the hard pumping effects and wild side of the psychedelic dance floor.
Phonic Request – Skulls & Bones (Hypergate Records) 2009 (HGRCD005)
Cover--Art: http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1820094
1. Phonic Request - Organic Function (6:33)
2. Phonic Request - Broken Machine (7:17)
3. Phonic Request - Strange Ghost (6:46)
4. Phonic Request - Crach Bug (Remix) (7:10)
5. Phonic Request Feat. Principles Of Flight - Skulls & Bones (9:50)
6. Phonic Request - Stress (7:28)
7. Phonic Request Feat. Jaws Underground - Inside You (6:48)
8. Phonic Request - Mentally Disturbed (6:50)
9. Phonic Request Feat. Electrocult - What Do You Want (8:06)
After playing his album a few times I have a feeling of stress and conferment. The first three tracks all have this ultra fast chainsaw effect thing that runs through the tracks producing these scratching annoyances. They all got a super sweet production on their good measure side and the sound effects sounds as crystal clear as one would expect out of a full powered Full-On dance floor album anno 2009. The best tracks in my opinion are the ones that seem to have more of a story to them, the ones that offer interesting ideas and evolution in sound. And this is where my conspiracy theories get their wonk on - the album title is Skulls & Bones after all, so why not conspire to conspire a little.
So what I know is that Phonic Request cooperated with Principle of Flight on their debut album Night Time Lullabies, I know they’re probably very good friends that hang out in the studio smoking grass and tweaking noises together. Hell, I’m even sure they listen to each other’s raw materials for inputs and ideas! And of course, I know perfectly well that Principle of Flight joined forces with Phonic Request on this very album. Actually, they joined forces on two tracks, the fourth and fifth as Crash Bug (Remix) and the title track are tracks credited to them both. So here goes, either Wilfried aka Phonic Request is Principle of Flight, or he’s copying them, or maybe vice versa for all I know. I mean, every single track starting at number 4 and ending at number 9 bear strong resemblances to Principle of Flight’s latest album Chaos Opera, which makes it sound like a rip-off, with the exception of the seventh track that only has some miner indications of plagiarism. And this is sort of curious since the only indication of originality in Skulls & Bones then stand from their usage of fucked-up Chemical Crew E-Tard chainsaw scratches in the very first three tracks, which turns out, is not so original after all.
So what’s good about the album then? Well the production is top notch, that’s for sure. And the mastering that’s been done by Johannes Regnier aka Silicon Sound is crystal clear down to the crome surface of a skeletal core. The effects used have some impressive turns and tweaks to bend your sanity, but it sort of feels like they have no purpose except to mess up your mind and sound stressfully cool on a packed dance floor.
Ok, so maybe I got this all wrong, but nonetheless it’s my distinct impression about the album and I did hear the Chaos Opera album first and it’s better, much better. Speaking of Chaos Opera, the fifth track (together with Principle of Flight) sounds likes a piece that was supposed to be included on the Chaos Opera album but unfortunately didn’t make the cut. So Phonic Request decided to put it on his own album instead, and since it was the best input on the album he also decided to make the following tracks sound like its’ crunching landscape.
All in all, this is an album with a fuck-you vibe that drives a full throttle,
which in my personal opinion stresses more then it pleases a sinister grind.
Favorite Tracks: 4, 5(!), 8, 9
Where to buy and other links:
Phonic Homepage: http://www.phonicrequest.com
Phonic MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/phonicrequest
Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/artist/Phonic+Request
Hypergate Records: http://www.hypergate-records.com
Hypergate MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/hypergatelabel
Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/label/Hypergate+Records
MeskalART: http://www.myspace.com/meskalart
Psyshop.com: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/hgr/hgr1cd005.html
Saikosounds: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=7933
Beatspace: http://www.beatspace.com/dettagli/dettaglio.asp?id=4921
Play.com: http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/9493827/Sk...es/Product.html
Juno.co.uk: http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/353325-01.htm
Wirikuta.at: http://www.wirikuta.at/web66/product_detai...owDetail=220747
More Reviews: http://www.myspace.com/psytonesmusic
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Pt.
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
236
Posts :
6106
Posted : Jul 18, 2009 05:18
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I got to mention that this album was released in March, and the Chaos Opera album was released in May.   But still ...
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squirm
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
254
Posts :
2638
Posted : Jul 18, 2009 09:22
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i wont go so far as claiming one act ripping another, but both projects work a fair bit together and its understandable how that might lead to some similarities in sound.
i havent really heard this album thoroughly though. but i did find it to be a bit lacking in focus. i liked the title track, reminds me a lot of pirates of the carribean
overall though, i prefer phonic requests older stuff, like his releases on hadra and parvati. just something smoother and more refined about those tunes. but thats just my opinion
cheers!
 www.soundcloud.com/ishikawa
www.mechanikrecords.com
www.phonix-records.com
www.mixcloud.com/ishikawa/ |
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neuromantik
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
28
Posts :
593
Posted : Jul 18, 2009 12:44
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lol, the album may be not be the next Posford masterpiece but the review is absolutely terrible and downright slanderous.. Seriously though you might want to stick to the music next time  ("Chainsaw" and "Fuck you" not being the most descriptive of terms) Cheers
I don't use ideas. Every time I have an idea it's too limiting, and usually turns out to be a disappointment. But I haven't run out of curiosity. -RR |
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Pt.
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
236
Posts :
6106
Posted : Jul 18, 2009 13:17
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lol I guess my review in some abscure way reflects the album?
But anyway, I know my words might have sounded a bit harsh, and I did have a concern that I’d might end up offending some people and hurt Wilfried's feelings, which isn't cool, but I hope he can take my words with some sense of humor as well .. You used the word slanderous about my review, which means; harmful and often untrue. Well, again I hope it won’t cause too much harm.
And about it being untrue? I made a conspiracy theory out of the album, like it or not. Besides, what was I supposed to do when I got the album, pass it and be disrespectful and not write anything about it since it wasn’t my cup of tea? Write some boring generic words about it that would go by unnoticed? Or do a review that entertains at some stage and might cause some attention to make people take a listen which might leave some people liking it and supporting Phonic’s need to be heard Request?
I did write a track by track review as well, but it became so boring I had to scrap it. Maybe my bad that I didn't save and post it together with the rest. That might have balanced out the review a little.
When I did finish the review, I had funny thoughts about my review being criticized, that people, especially French people would attack my words and turn the attention spam towards me instead of doing what they should have and write some words them self about the album, because I am only one voice, and my voice is not law or the ultimate truth, at all. It’s just a voice – and it might be misguided or wrong sometimes. Actually, if people would stand up for Phonic Requests music and write what they like about it to counter my shit-throw, I would be a happy person feeling my words did something good, even though if it isn’t clear
And about the term chainsaw, could you please listen to the first three tracks and give me a better term for that ‘drilled chainsaw scratch’ sound? Because I couldn’t come up with anything better – I tried. And the Fuck-You vibe was also a term I used to try to showcase that the album has attitude.
I've never heard his previous works, so I appreciate Squirms words, a lot.
As a token of respect, I did use a lot of time on this review (about 4 hours .. hehe um), so it took a lot from me to write it.
And I linked up as much information and shops to buy/listen to samples as possible. I donno-
Cheers
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Pt.
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
236
Posts :
6106
Posted : Jul 21, 2009 03:52
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.. I would also like to mention that although I've compared this and PoF's Chaos Opera album a lot in my review, it should be mentioned that the overall sound image is extremely similar (track 4 to 9). What separates them is the fact that the Chaos Opera album has more classical elements in it, different and maybe more emotional leads, a story feel and more of a full-packed and busy sound image. While this Skulls & Bones album has a more open space to its tracks with a steadier techno vibe going on in its Full-On realm. Also according to my knowledge, Skulls & Bones is a collection of single tracks that were supposed to be scattered on compilations here and there but went into one album to form Skulls & Bones instead.
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Adigroovy
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
24
Posts :
1647
Posted : Jul 21, 2009 13:11
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also prefered much more the older stuff of Phonic Request, like the ones on Parvati back in the day. this release sound just bit steril to me.
to use your head you have to go out of your mind |
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squirm
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
254
Posts :
2638
Posted : Jul 25, 2009 10:02
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after hearing the album a bit, i have to say i agree with what psytones says about the tracks in general. tracks 1 to 3 are a bit on the harsher side with lots of metallic leeds aka chain saw leads. 4 onwards there is alot of use of these really tecnoid kicks and basslines, which is something i found very similar to chaos opera. the slight differences that he noted are pretty spot on, where chaos opera has a tight theme going on, this album isn't as bound to a certain theme.
on a different note, the crash bug rmx is sweet 
cheers!
www.soundcloud.com/ishikawa
www.mechanikrecords.com
www.phonix-records.com
www.mixcloud.com/ishikawa/ |
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