Reviews 3

Near Brockley Magazine - June 2002 - Robert Cole - Songs for Swinging Lovers (Album Review) Citizen Singer. 'Songs for Swinging Lovers' sounds like an innocent enough title for an album of music. But like the content of Philip Kane's new release there is more to the name than meets the eye or ear. The title of the CD operates on at least three different levels. There is the straightforward interpretation and most of the album will satisfy music loving lovers. Philip Kane's voice is impressive. It is languid, reminiscent of Martin Stephenson (of Daintees fame), with range and edge that will encourage those who believe that the human voice is the finest of all instruments. There is a naughtiness to the lyrics which belies a second reading of the title. "Swinging" lovers, after all, may be as keen on flinging car keys on coffee tables as tapping feet to Philip Kane's well constructed melodies. There is a third way of reading the title of this fine CD, and one which is more macabre than musical. Philip Kane had hangings in mind when he dreamed up the "Songs for Swinging Lovers" moniker. In terms of musical style Philip Kane is a long way from Paul Heaton of The Housemartins and The Beautiful South. But the double or tripled-edged acidity in the wit of Philip Kane's lyrics is equal to anything Paul Heaton would write. As with many pieces of genuine quality it may take a couple of listenings to appreciate the strengths of this attractive CD. But it is worth taking times getting to know this work.

Bizarre 14 - Alex Novak Media Gurls (CD Single - Corrupt) Features x-singer of the band Ennui who produced one single then changed their name to Avalanche. They subsequently released an album 'Hangover Square'; the album received good reviews from the likes of the Observer, Vox and Melody Maker. But Philip's experience was not a good one leaving him 'embittered' to say the least. This caustic song that's full of venom comes on like a mix of Suede and glammy Bowie. Queen Bitch, put your claws away."

Rhythm & Booze March/April 2002 Will Munn Philip Kane "Me, the LadyBoy and Gloria Estefan" - Wow, firstly I've got to say that the title to this CD is truly brilliant, it just struck me as such a compelling title. Those of you who read the last issue of R & B (if not, why not?) Will have read my review of Philip Kane's previous release Media Gurls which I heaped praise upon. Philip Kane is an intriguing songwriter, on the former release there was self-pity and morose bitter sweet songs and then this one begins with an upbeat sounding track. Me and Gloria Estefan was written inspired by a journey to Bangkok and hearing a Thai karaoke singer performing Gloria's I Can't Stay Away From You and being hit by the realisation that the song was the most accurate portrayal of heartbreak ever heard. Now I know that sounds all a little strange and when I read the inlay I thought that it was all lunacy but despite that I can't escape the fact that the song is fantastic, it's a gorgeous pop love song. Right from the opening Babababa the song hooks you in, Philip's voice shimmering delightfully before saxophone, violins, a cello and female backing vocalists join in for a huge chorus. Perhaps Me and Gloria Estefan is destined to be one of the greatest pop songs never really heard, and it's a crying shame. The second track Still.....(he knows your name) heads into more familiar territory, the sound of mournful vocals alongside pedal steel guitar. Philip has one of the most versatile and emotional voices I've ever heard and on both Still.....(he knows your name) and the following song Smoking in Bed you know the sentiments are really heartfelt. Philip almost has the ability to reduce you to tears with his voice. The CD is finished with an instrumental of the opening track only rename In Praise of Anti-Depressants and Shopping ending the CD in the same grand manner it began. If there was any justice in the world Philip Kane would be a household name as it is he's a joy for the people in the know.

Record Collector No 271 March 2002 Philip Kane "Media Gurls EP" (Corrupt). Lawks! You are what you drink, and Kane's a bitter man. The sleeve slags off all the right people, namely Max Hastings' harem of pushy public schoolgirls at London's Evening Standard. Kane vents his spleen at media nepotism and the fires of his cold fury are well stoked. Like everyone else nowadays, Kane is harking back to the blues, but through an art rock route: The title track is a competent Bowie pastiche, on which our Phil wittily mentions old odd-eyes, while 'I Need You To Hate Me' fools around with 'Streetlife' era Roxy. No amount of overstated self-loathing, however, excuses poetical pretensions in pop music. Careful, now.

*E*P*E*A*T Winter 2002 Chris Marling Philip Kane "Media Gurls" (Corrupt). Clearly a dairylea dunker short of a picnic, Mr. Kane walks the tricky line between pop and insanity. Track 4, Tittybar, is as fantastic as it sounds in a seedy bluesy way.

Rhythm & Booze January/February 2002 Will Munn Philip Kane "Media Gurls EP" - Philip Kane should be a name that everyone knows already if things had have gone to plan, of course the talented always get overlooked for the latest trend. Philip Kane some time ago was the lead singer of a band called Ennui, a band that released one single that was critically acclaimed but disappeared from trace. Ennui then signed a record deal, shed two members and changed their name to Avalanche to release an album called Hangover Square . Once again the release received glowing reviews but was pretty much ignored and they split shortly after a performance on the Jack Docherty Show. Philip Kane continued to make demos and then the record label dropped him due to his drug-related history, but now he's back recording, and thank God he is. Philip Kane is a bitter man with an incredible voice as evident on the title track. The song itself is addictive with Philip's voice coming across like Jeff Buckley, according to the inlay the singer is attacking the former lover's breasts amongst other things. The B sides are the last Ennui songs recorded. The first Bad Lover Blues is a duet with someone called Julie Andrews who has an incredibly beautiful voice, whereas Philip comes across as a mournful cross between Nick Cave and latter day Iggy Pop. Despite Philip's own opinion of the song, it's a track that needs to be heard: the contrast between the two vocalists work so well together; his mournful desolate voice and agonised screams alongside the gorgeous female vocals. I need you to hate me is to be taken literally, a bitter self-loathing song, it's angry and venomous, sounding altogether real, none of the woeful pity seeking you find from the majority of the so called tortured artists. Tittybar completes the track listing and again he's ripping himself apart, mentioning a ballad he wrote and saying it was the worst song he has ever heard. Either Philip Kane really does hate himself, or he's dark-witted enough to pull this off and sound sincere, only he knows. After the first song you expect the rest of this CD to follow suit with the Jeff Buckley like songs of self pity, but instead Philip gets downright dark and nasty. The whole of this CD is an object lesson in how to write awesome songs of self-pity. Help Philip Kane to become the big name he obviously deserves by buying this and demanding a re-release of his past glories (I want a copy of the album and I can't find it anywhere).

Organart.com 17th December 2001 (singles reviews) Sean Worral Philip Kane "Media Gurls EP" (Corrupt) - Mr. Kane was once the front man/driving force with the rather twisted, rather cynically thrilling and rather ignored (though not round these parts), Ennui. At times, when they really hit their self loathing rather depraved spot they could be vital in a far more twisted bitter Dream City Film Club/Iggy Pop/Scott Walker way - catch them on the right days and their gigs were wonderful (They did have their off days as well, but hey who needs a predictable band, too many auto-cues these days). Then Ennui fell into the hands of a record company who started messing with heads, line-ups and eventually names, they let themselves go under the name of Avalanche and became a watered down compromised disappointment. And now Philip Kane has escaped with his warped Jarvis Cocker/Scott Walker self loathing destructive side back again - embittered, a cancerous angle but an angel nevertheless, self loathing can indeed, as someone else said, be attractive - "I Need you to Hate me" he sings like it's the last time he ever will. I need you to fuck me up. Yes, despite the rather pitiful (he said it himself) final track "Titty Bar" - which really does capture a lot and adds to the EP in it's own pitiful way, Philip Kane is back on those rails he's always falling off of, he's back on form.

Here be Monsters December 2001 (singles reviews) Clive Monster Philip Kane "Media Gurls EP" (Corrupt) - I can't get my head round this guy....By the blurb he's had a real crazy past and it shows on this quite good, but confused four tracker. He starts off kinda like Bowie, then gets all jazzy on a boy/girl thaang and then builds up to a more er, f**ked up frenzy before letting himself down on the unfunny "Tittybar". Probably a genius on his own planet.

previous | next