Walker Phillips is a Psychedelic Folk musician originally from San Francisco, USA. The second album from the tilo “God’s Eye” was released on March 31, 2023 (Digital) and April 21, 2023 (LP) via Guerssen Records and contains 6 tracks plus a Bonus. The opener “Listen To Me” is a dreamy atmospheric track with delicate guitar arpeggios and intertwining vocals. A sound with a gentle Folk-Rock imprintiung enriched by percussion and flute, which evolve the track in the second half. The artist succeeds in bringing the atmosphere of the late 1960s into a fresh and modern context, immediately immersing us in the musical context of the record. The album’s shortest track “Juniper & Jade,” featuring a mixture of Folk and Jazzy traits. The vocals are soft and expressive and the 60s feel is more pronounced than on the previous track with marked American Beat influences. The horns in the middle part offer an interesting solo insert, which then leaves room for the last verses to end. “Marigold Eyes” immerses us in the artist’s more psychedelic sounds, steeped in Folk and oriental traits. In the best late 60s tradition, the track takes us back to the hippie communes of the time. The vocals are sweet and expressive, and he interprets the lyrics with passion. The track evolves on hypnotic and enveloping atmospheres with the addition of percussion in an interesting instrumental section. A sound that interweaves guitar and flute arpeggios with a gentle vocal characterises the melancholic “Song of Solomon.” The Folk component is predominant, alternating between instrumental sections and sung parts laden with pathos. An enveloping and delicate track that lulls us on this musical journey. The title track “God’s Eye” opens with guitar arpeggios, vocals and harmonica. A very intense blend of Folk and American tradition with the vocals taking centre stage, accompanied by an emotional acoustic guitar background. The harmonica inserts give an American touch to the sound, characterising and distinguishing the track. On the B-side of the LP version we find the final suite “Lovebird,” an epic exceeding 15 minutes in length. The first part is characterised by melancholic sounds with guitar arpeggios and flute melodies on which the vocal expresses its full potential. In its long duration, the song is enriched with tempo changes and long instrumental textures. Percussion and keyboards are added to the sound, giving more solutions as well as a fine Prog/Psych touch. It is a carrier track for the entire album, full of ideas and summarising all the artist’s musical influences, touching on the various genres that make up its stle. between Jazz, Prog, Psychedelia and a touch of Avant-Garde, it enhances all the artist’s acompositive and performing technique. A listen that takes us back in time to the late 1960s, managing to offer a sound somewhere between Folk and Psychedelia with a modern and personal touch. Intense tracks full of pathos, with a final epic of over 15 minutes that also explores Prog and Jazz as well as Avant-Garde. An excellent discographic release that confirms the good things heard in the debut, through a varied and well-constructed tracklist. A recommended listen for all lovers of Psychedelic Folk sounds, with a first side with more traditional sounds and a second side more Experimental.
Tracklist
01. Listen To Me > Ballad of a Cancer with a Libra Moon or How the Crab Got His Scales (06:36)
02. Juniper & Jade (02:51)
03. Marigold Eyes (03:41)
04. Song of Solomon (03:11)
05. God’s Eye (03:52)
06. Lovebird (15:36)
07. Bottles of Glass (Bonus Track – Digital Only) (03:03)
Credits
Leonardo Casas / Cover
Jeffrey Burr / Electric Guitar (Track 06)
Jeremy Kimzey / Electric Guitar, Bass
Camilla Saufley-Mitchell / Flute, Piano (Track 06)
Adam Weaver / Percussions (Track 06)
Walker Phillips / Producer, Vocals, Instruments
Caira Paravel / Vocals