CHUPACABRAS

Chupacabras finds Phideaux surrounded with an extensive cast of musicians. The band fluently moves through the song material that surpasses anything else I've heard from Phideaux. Especially the 20+ minutes epic does not disappoint and is one of the best of its kind since I don't know when.

The title track is an amazing display of melodic wealth and brilliant instrumentation. This is the kind of prog epic that will both instantly charm you and that will keep growing and revealing new details during the infinite number of listens you will continue to give it. Just like the best. The instrumentation is very rich, abundant even, but never indulgent. The instruments are balanced out nicely and avoid the clutter that an inferior talent would produce with the wide array of musicians and instruments that are listed here. Even the female vocals, something I'm normally not too enthusiastic about, work very well on this album.

There's another aspect of this album that greatly appeals to me. Phideaux's songwriting and playing testifies of a great passion for what he is doing. Everything sounds so enthusiastic and spontenuous, and every detail is meticulously looked after. This is music is not manufactured by a detached professional or from an urge to impress anybody; it is simply born out of love for music. This is also apparent in the wild playfulness and imagination of a track like Ruffian on the Stairs. Phideaux sure has an eclectic taste and his music testifies of it: vintage 70's prog, art rock, 80's new wave, folk, psychedelic rock and balladry. Anything goes.

Chupacabras is an exceptionally good album that will have a great appeal to Porcupine Tree fans, but it is more proggy then PT and should please all fans of symphonic prog and prog folk. You'll find next to no rating below 4 stars on this album's page and it's fully deserved. 4.5 stars.