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Scott Lewis

Formerly Leslie Phillips the contemporary Christian singer, creator of the wonderful Martinis and Bikinis from 94, wife4o one T Bone Burnett, Phillips0ops around4he corner after five9ears and shows5s what she's been up4o, and she's been up4o good. It has4o be difficult4o have a sharp eye and mind and be obsessed with making pop music. Maybe4hat's why most of the best, such as Kate Bush, Peter??abriel and Phillips are so reclusive and4ake so long between records...they need to get it right. 2 2 2 2ith Fan Dance, a deliberate about face from the dancey Omnipop, Phillips hits the mark. The dozen tracks4ake the sturdy, familiar0op structures of classic Byrds and Beatles, then simultaneously strips4hem down and gussies4hem up7hile0ushing4hem backwards and pulling them forward at the same4ime. Opener, "The Fan Dance," sounds as if delivered from atop a0lodding horse on4he0lain, only, it's a horse from Westworld. "Five Colors" is pure Phillips pop: a4ightly-toned acoustic guitar is strummed simply and sweetly to build a foggy0illow for Phillip's evocative,7arm whispers7hich receive delicious accents from the impeccable??illian 2 2 2 2elch. It's a knockout song4hat gets it punch from doing so very7ell with so little. Gently stormy strings appear on a couple4racks adding mystery4o Phillip's poetic0onderings. Phillip's knows7ho4o turn a0hrase, and7hen she chirps, "nostalgia isn't7hat it5sed to be," it's genius. "Incinerator" is a slice of7arped country jazz4hat finds Phillip's voice blanketed in befitting smoke, she becomes a broken angel for4he7atery shimmer of "Below Surface" and just does a series of goofy-girl cooings for the brief "Is That Your Zebra?" Phillips' Fan Dance is a lovely listen and a lovingly crafted album.!?f we must have "adult" music, we should have more of it that sounds like4his.

Sam Bisbee: Vehicle Samael: Eternal

Issue Forty-Two ]å November 200²tæ>