One of the most aptly titled albums ever. "Phantasies," for the dream-like atmosphere, the phantasm-haunted, echoing anti-songs. "Senseitions" for the spine-tickling, clattering drones, bashed out on everything from clarinet to violin and overseen by sensei master/songwriter Sean Byrne.
As the title also suggests, it's a bit slaphappy in places, and calling a song "Elfin Majic" (and making it actually sound like a Tolkeinite wood creature lark) is not acceptable. But you forgive Byrne for his stoned meanderings, because there's a spirit of genuine experimentation at work in most of his music.
Take "Inhuman," a delicate acoustic ballad that gasps as it struggles through the muffled sounds of a trash compactor being eaten by another, bigger trash compactor. The juxtaposition isn't forced, though, and the crumbling strength in Byrne's voice suits the mood perfectly. "Shorty," meanwhile, is a pure Sonic Youth/Mogwai groove, with perfectly sweetened synthesized strings giving it an unexpected melodic punch.
Byrne and friends dabble in everything from ambient (the Aphex-like "Long Corridor #6") to jazz (the sax breaks on "Almost Blue") to distorted guitar rock ("Sit On This"). They're so good at all of it, in fact, that the only frustration is the lo-fi, four-track sound. Phantasies and Senseitions takes the possibilities in music head on, and the result is worth checking out.
If you like Bugskull, check out:
Sonic Youth Daydream Nation
The Aphex Twin Selected Ambient Works 1985-1992
Primal Scream Vanishing Point
psst...you might wanna check out our indie rock abode for more features on (guess what) indie rock bands.
-- jf
