Phil Edgelely – This Life

Review by Eric Ford – Folk ‘Til Midnight, EBIFM 103.1 FM.

Interestingly enough this is Phil’s first CD.I say that because it came out a few years ago and the second-Then and Now is already released! An expatriate Englishman from Lincolnshire he came late to music and is making up for lost time.

Into motorbikes and an fitter and turner to trade he now lives on NSW’s Central Coast. Phil admits to being influenced by,among others, Jeff Lang and Phil Manning.That should tell you the sort of CD this is. It’s folk blues in fact almost talking folk blues as drawls and fingerpicks through the set.

The songs are written by Phil and he’s supported by Paul Ritter on bass and Tony Keep on drums.It gives an uncluttered clean sound to the songs. Tyhe songs themselves cover mainly “Getting out from under” Love and Relationships. In ‘Try to Love’ he’s not quite getting the relationship right. Not an orphan there! In ‘Out of Here’ he’s on his way. ‘Bottle’ tells the story of the affair slowly sliding into despair and haze.

Some of the songs are repetitive with not much happiness in them.More introspective for me. But thats blues for you. Very little to cheer about in blues! The overall sound fits quite well into my programmes The more I’ve listened the more I’ve looked forward to hearing ‘Then and Now’ However as ‘This Life’ took a couple of years to reach us I don’t know when that will be.

Phil plays mainly up and sown the East Coast and into Sydney.In October he has some gigs in his homeland and November through to January will be touring Victoria and Tassie! Reputed to be a fine cook if his cooking matches his music I’m hungry!