
“Critical Misunderstandings On The Precipice,” the second full length studio album from Halcyon Phase, produced and recorded at Bova Sound in Ottawa by Phillip Victor Bova has been released. Almost four years after the band’s critically acclaimed debut album Tendrils dropped, the new original songs address the state of the world, human relationships, actions and inaction, at a particularly perilous moment in our history. These are love songs, break-up songs; treatises and melodies that speak to social injustice/inequities, climate change, Artificial Intelligence (AI), struggles with mental illness and addiction. A thread lamenting the rapid passage of time and aging runs through it.
This collection of tunes also explores the role of the artist in society across mediums of artistic expression; the value and importance of pursuing art at all costs. Halcyon Phase leaders Frank Smith (words and music), Phillip Victor Bova (music) have crafted a compelling collection of powerful, melodic songs that are framed in genres including Folk, Indie Rock and Progressive Rock, with distinct flavours of Jazz. Session musicians and singers joined Phil and Frank in the studio to lend their diverse talents to complete “Critical Misunderstandings On The Precipice.”
The anthemic first single “AI World” is on our YouTube channel in a music video created by Robin Youlton. Watch the video through the YouTube player below:
“Critical Misunderstandings OnThe Precipice” is on Bandcamp for streaming, as a digital download or on CD in a beautiful digipak edition, replicated and printed by Standard Media. It is also available on all major streaming platforms — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon etc. The album is up for Canadian campus and community radio programs through Earshot Distro.
Tracklist:
01. Mean Streets
02. Gravity
03. Thinking of You
04. AI World
05. Blank Page
06. Our Love Was In Danger
07. The Pledge
08. We Feel
09. A Fever Dream
10. The Future
11. Not Enough
12. Quietly Fading
13. The Room Spins Around
14. Rest
Lineup:
Frank Smith / Lead Vocals
Phillip Victor Bova / Electric Bass, Keyboards, Electric Guitars, Six and 12 String Acoustic Guitars
Gord Finley / Drums
John Fraser Findlay / Lead Electric Guitars, 6 and 12 String Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards, Piano, Harmony Vocals
Kellylee Evans / Additional and Harmony Vocals on 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8
Shannon Ross / Harmony Vocals on 1, 5, 9, 12, 14
Tara Holloway / Harmony Vocals on 3, 14
Jeremy Abboud / Harmony Vocals on 1, 4, 6
Michael Belanger / Harmony Vocals on 7
All songs were composed by Frank Smith (words, music) and Phillip Victor Bova (music), registered with SOCAN. The album was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Phillip Victor Bova at Bova Sound in Ottawa, Canada from October, 2023 to September, 2024. John Findlay recorded some of his instrumental parts at his home studio in Toronto. Janet Kirby provided project management from start to finish and delicious food and coffee in the studio.The compact disc version of the album and the cover image to be used online features an original oil painting by Alan Marsden and design by Grace Smith.
Halcyon Phase is a collaboration between veteran singer-songwriter Frank Smith (Sills & Smith) and legendary producer/recording engineer and multi-instrumentalist Phillip Victor Bova (Bova Sound). Frank and Phil have worked together on Halcyon Phase and Sills & Smith projects.
Purchase the album on Bandcamp: https://halcyonphase.bandcamp.com/album/critical-misunderstandings-on-the-precipice