FEATURED CD: Phlox - Talu

[Poisoned Youth]

Who says Estonia can't make great music?




Review from ProgArchives (Mellotron Storm):

PHLOX are a Jazz Rock/Fusion band out of Estonia of all places. I've been waiting for the followup to their last album which was pretty close to being 5 stars for me. "Talu" continues in the same style although there's not as much distortion. Cool cover art and when you open up the cover you see the same girl only her eyes are sewn shut. Yikes !
"Voib-Olla Dresiiniga" is so impressive to start with the electric piano and amazing drumming. Vibes too and it's uptempo. It settles some after 1 1/2 minutes with sax standing out. It settles even more 2 1/2 minutes in. Nice drum work as it picks back up. Sax is back. Great tune. "Hullelu" opens with drums,bass and electric piano. Sax joins in. This is so good. Lots of horns. Guitar 2 1/2 minutes in. Nice. It settles after 3 minutes then builds. "Monokkel" opens with electric piano as sax then violin join in. It kicks in around a minute. Nice drumming once again. The guitar is incredible after 2 minutes as it goes on and on. Violin takes it's place before 4 minutes. Keyboards lead as it settles 5 1/2 minutes in,they get crazy around 7 minutes. Sax is back.

"Ooode" is catchy with some good bass. Sax joins in then the tempo picks up. Piano 3 minutes. "Loomaaed" is kind of experimental early. Check out the guitar 2 1/2 minutes in as it grinds away. A calm a minute later with piano and sax. It starts to build 5 minutes in. "In The Wood" features piano and light drums. Horns join in then the sound gets fuller. Guitar around 2 1/2 minutes. Distorted keys after 4 1/2 minutes. "Siil" is uptempo with keys,drums,bass and horns. The keys become distorted after the drums get heavier. Oh my ! Incredible section. It settles back after 5 minutes then picks up a minute later. "Istu. Viis" opens with drums as bass then piano join in. Sax too. Synths before 4 minutes as the bass throbs and drums pound. "Augstin'" opens with electric piano as gentle guitar joins in then a full sound. The sax plays over top of the rather heavy rhythm section. It settles with electric piano only as contrasts continue. Cool tune. "Binokkel" is the one minute closer. It's mellow with violin later on.

I miss that Canterbury flavour with all the fuzz but man this is good. A solid 4 stars without a doubt.

[NogbadTheBad]

Really nice stuff.

[Zeuhlmate]

http://www.myspace.com/phloxmkdk

Great stuff !

[Bake 1]

Real Spiff... nails Perigeo or Soft Machine nerve endings at times, but didn't seem like a dead horse beating... hope to get more soon.

[nosebone]

Great band and album, with some real nice twists & turns compositionally.

Sort of a cross between Soft Machine and Akineton Retard.

[mellotron storm]

Great band and album, with some real nice twists & turns compositionally.

Sort of a cross between Soft Machine and Akineton Retard.

I never thought of Akineton Retard until you mentioned it but they do have that sort of Avant style mixed Jazz. Nice ! Love this band especially their first record.

[Zalmoxe]

Lovely stuff indeed.

[Steve F.]

YAY! a real favorite of mine, especially this latest one which isn't so very new at this point, but it's still their latest.

They're working on a new one. Hopefully out in 2013.

[adewolf]

Nice one.

[walt]

Damn fine music.

[Sputnik]

YAY! a real favorite of mine, especially this latest one which isn't so very new at this point, but it's still their latest.

They're working on a new one. Hopefully out in 2013.

Glad to hear they're working on a new one. Phlox is one of my favorite modern bands, really awesome stuff. I still have a slight preference for the first album (actually second, but the real first one was limited release and is way OOP), but Talu is awesome. Highest recommendation to fans of challenging Prog or Jazz Rock/Fusion.

Bill

[Zeuhlmate]

From youtube & myspace - In my ears the previous album "Rebimine ja voltimine" 2007 seems a bit more [something interesting] than Talu from 2010 ?

[arturs]

I've been going gaga over Phlox for the last year or so. Along with DFA 4th, Talu is to me one of the greatest "neo Canterbury" discs of the new millenium. I will have to check out "Rebimine ja voltimine" and the first two (apparently long OOP) discs as well.

[Kyo]

Saw them live, got the CD. Good stuff!

[FredOCal]

I love the intensity of this band. It has a Canterbury vibe, but it seems to be heavier than most. Really good stuff.

[GuitarGeek]

Another band named after a Star Trek character? How many are there?!

[Mascodagama]

Phlox is a Star Trek character?

[TheH]

Phlox is a Star Trek character?

He is an Alien Doc on the Enterprise in that early years series

[Mascodagama]

He is an Alien Doc on the Enterprise in that early years series

Ah, never seen that, thanks. I always figured the band was just named after the flower.

[TheH]

Ah, never seen that, thanks. I always figured the band was just named after the flower.

Which is true I think, Star Trek: Enterprise is from 2001 Phlox founded in 2000

[alucard]

The band ia named after a flower. I am not a botanic specialist , you have to look it up if you want to know more.
Btw since then the band has released a live record and last year another studio record.

[Mascodagama]

^ The album from last year, Keri, is killer stuff. Then again everything I've heard from them has been very strong.

[Sputnik]

^ The album from last year, Keri, is killer stuff. Then again everything I've heard from them has been very strong.

Totally agree! I like or love all the Phlox albums, and Keri is probably my second favorite after R+V! Need to give this a fresh spin!

Every time I tend the phlox In our yard I start humming this band's music. [emoji57]

Bill

Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk

[sphinx]

It could also be that the band is just named after the original meaning of the word.

Etymology:
From New Latin Phlox, from Ancient Greek φλόξ (phlóx, "flame", "blaze").