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Phillip Eno continue to be one of the more interesting and experimental bands residing in the underground New York scene, their frequent musical output always managing to surprise, delight and intrigue. At times the sheer complexity of their music and the multilayered soundscapes they create can be mindblowing, every listen to one of their songs reveals new ideas and fresh sounds - like unpeeling a huge musical onion. Of course, all the musical complexity in the world is for nothing if you don't have a heart and soul beating at the core - and this is where the real magic in Phillip Eno lies, Nerissa Vales wrapping her delicious vocals around the swirling soundscapes, her voice exhibiting a nursery rhyme sweetness, all wide eyed and innocent yet something at the edges suggesting a darkness within, dangerously seductive.
Not always easy to categorise, this is a band that always seem on the move and headed in myriad different directions - on a song like WALL OF SOUND you can catch a glimpse of Joy Division in the propulsive bass line, but unlike many bands Phillip Eno just use this as a starting point layering on countless sound effects and moody atmospherics, building things to a dreamlike state a place where David Lynch butts heads with Takishi Miike on a rainy afternoon. Though frequently surreal, Phillip Eno can also do beautifully sublime with equal ease OPEN YOUR EYES being a case in point. Nerissa Vales weaves sublime melodies against a haunting piano, aching synth swells and subdued beats - a ghostlike guitar working its charms as the song reaches its stunning crescendo.
COMFORT ROOM is an album that doesn't always sound like a series of songs, instead working better as a continuous mood piece - short pieces of ambient soundwaves that bear comparison to Harold Budd or Brian Eno are sandwiched between the more conventionally structured material, its a combination that works to lend an air of cohesion and flow.
Taking things in a more aggressive direction than they've shown before BUDDY SMILE finds the beats speeding up and the vocals toughening - giving the impression of Chicks On Speed hijacked by the Aphex Twin. COULD'VE BEEN borrows from Joy Division again, those simplistic tribal drum patterns and deep bass rumbles proving as intoxicating as ever. The shimmering NOW I'M HOME perhaps sums up the essence of Phillip Eno, a delicate and fragile sounding song that builds layers upon layers of sound - weaving synth loops and subdued beats into a swirling vortex of atmospheric sound, allowing Nerissa Vales to pour her entrancing sublime vocals over the top. As a moment of glorious release, the CD ends with a punk freakout right at the end - screaming vocals and squealing guitars battle with frantic beats, the sound of a band unleashing their punk rock demons.
A glorious combination of Joy Division, Lush, Boards Of Canada and The Jesus And Mary Chain, Phillip Eno are a band to adore. With every new release Philip Eno continue to experiment, evolve and surprise, COMFORT ROOM being perhaps their finest moment to date and ranking as one of the most compelling and brave albums of 2005 so far.

What was once a brief departure from the regular line-up of Uncletoes Portasound, Lito Vales spin-off project, Phillip Eno, has produced a brilliant debut CD. The self-titled album delves into the more electronic musings of Vales and vocalist-wife, Nerissa. With added bass and guitars by fellow Portasound members, Phillip Eno disposes of the traditional drum section, opting for the more versatile Roland Groovebox. Filled with drumbeats, synth loops, haunting guitars and multi-layered vocals, Phillip Eno takes advantage of each contributors musical strengths, creating a solid collection of dreamlike tracks. Accompanying the album is a bonus CD entitle Etc., a collection of songs sculpted by various textures of sound.

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