| CD Baby DIY Musician Podcast |
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| ‘Spoken Wor(l)d’: In Celebration of Human Speech |
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| posted by Phileas on Tuesday July 08 2008 @ 06:15AM PDT |
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Music is communication, the ultimate universal language.
Now imagine creating music using more than thirty of other human languages.
That is exactly what Phileas has done on ‘Spoken Wor(l)d’, his debut solo album. Taking his name from one of the most famous fictional travellers the world has ever known, Phileas himself spent three years wandering the globe collecting voice samples.
The theory behind this unique concept is that music unifies all these diverse voices. And while this might sound a little high-minded, Phileas’ music is still firmly rooted in fun: ‘Spoken Wor(l)d’ is not only a highly entertaining electro-pop record, but also a seductive call for a liberating session on the dancefloor.
Hailing from Lima, Peru, Phileas has been experimenting with human speech for 10 years, since working for LOT, a Peruvian theatre company that focused on spoken word performances. However, what makes his music different is that the voice is used just as others might use an instrument: the meaning of the words is less important than the sound that they make.
Phileas’ infectious, foot-tapping brand of dance oozes the kind of soulful feel so often lacking in this genre. So many voices, all speaking their own language, but somehow brought together to sound as one, guide the listener through a colourful journey filled with excitement and joy.
But first and foremost, ‘Spoken Wor(l)d’ gets people celebrate by dancing, with their bodies or their minds. Batman In D, the first single, remembers Vince Clark’s most exuberant pop moments, while Ursprache, an overwhelming showcase of words from the world, takes a New Order kind of electro-rock approach to the arrangement. From the Telefon Tel Aviv-like introspectiveness of The Reason to Stay Awake and The Path of Roses, to an unusual rave spirit that seems to blend Jean-Michel Jarre with Daft Punk in Picture Game and Red Drowning Sun, Phileas’ debut album is a non-stop array of voice soundscapes and rhythms, all cut through with the verve for invention that drove Kraftwerk on to ever more creative heights.
As Phileas himself says, ‘Spoken Wor(l)d’ is more than a record: “It is a positive message about the diversity and similarity of the people of this world”. And it is a simply great pop record all at the same time. A rare achievement indeed…
‘Spoke Wor(l)d’ will be released in stores on July, 2008.
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