Phildel: The Disappearance of the Girl (CD on Decca)

Band: Phildel
Label: Decca
Title: The Disappearance of the Girl

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Band:Phildel
Title:The Disappearance of the Girl
Reviewed By:Lisa Torem
Date Published:08/06/2013

Label:Decca
Format:CD
Release Year:2013
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Fortunately this singer/songwriter’s story does have a happy ending. Phildel’s childhood was one of stone silence because her stepfather forbid her to listen to music, but through a carefully devised clandestine plan she managed to educate herself.

Her debut album, 'The Disappearance of the Girl', reveals none of that secluded upbringing. But it does reveal her perseverance, natural songwriting talent and embracing soprano. Phildel developed her own process: "To write each song, I closed my eyes, played a single note and let my inner ear guide me."

The title song expresses her vulnerability in this new world: “And I don’t know where I stand/Faced with a cruel world.” Her quests for sanity continue in ‘Storm Song’ - “Send a storm to capture your heat and bring you home…”

But the arrangements are rich and colourful, sometimes whispered and sometimes fierce. ‘Mistakes’ features an expansive string section over which Phildel’s voice grows more vibrant and forceful. ‘Moonsea’ is enhanced by modern production techniques. Phildel descries her lot in life: “It’s a cruel dream.”

When she goes romantic, she goes all the way. “In my house on the hill, there is room for you still,” she declares over delicate pizzicato and the lightest of bells. The talented artist arranged much of her own materials, provided backing vocals and piano.

She’s no stranger to metaphors - “You know even stones change shape in time,” she implores in ‘Union Stone.’ Still mindful of love, even after her early scars, she sings her heart out on ‘Afraid Of The Dark’ – “Until you, oh the weapon you make of my heart.”

Her amblings grow sinister on ‘The Wolf’ as she ambitiously tears through a series of powerful recollections, soaring backing vocals and throbbing bass. Belying its title, ‘Switchblade’ is the most fragile petal of this evocative bouquet where the touching piano score bleeds into her desperate plea: “Where do you go?”

Electronic pulses accelerate and Phildel’s voice assumes a jazzy chromaticism. ‘Dare’ features a symphonic track and the prayer-like closer, ‘Funeral Bell,’ although tinged in dark hues, satisfies the soul with its honesty: “I can pray but it won’t stop your leaving.”

'The Disappearance of the Girl' is a shockingly good debut, which proves that silence may be golden but it could not kill Phildel’s stunning resilience.

Track Listing:

01) The Disappearance of the Girl
02) Storm Song
03) Mistakes
04) Moonsea
05) Beside You
06) Union Stone
07) Afraid of the Dark
08) The Wolf
09) Switchblade
10) Holes in Your Coffin
11) Dare
12) Funeral Bell

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Related Links

http://www.phildel.com/
http://www.songkick.com/artists/773610-phildel
https://twitter.com/Phildel
https://www.facebook.com/Phildel.Official
https://www.youtube.com/user/phildel/featured

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Resilient and powerful debut album from singer-songwriter Phildel, who was forbidden from listening to music when she was a child

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The Disappearance of the Girl - CD
Resilient and powerful debut album from singer-songwriter Phildel, who was forbidden from listening to music when she was a child

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