Phil Wilson Interviews and Articles
March 2001 interview with Phil Wilson
Phil Wilson interview with Philippines webzine - released June 2002
June 2002 interview for "Doing it for the kids" -Creation website
November 2002 - Phil Wilson interview with Penny Black online magazine
Great
page on Phil from Simply Thrilled Webzine
Ventura County Reporter: http://www.vcreporter.com/cms/story/detail/always_the_bridesmaid/6098/
San Francisco Bay Guardian: http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=6762
Portland Mercury: http://www.portlandmercury.com/music/the_golden_god_of_twee/Content?oid=844411
And there's some pictures of the LA gig with The Tyde here: http://pennyantejournal.blogspot.com/search/label/phil%20wilson
Specialist disseminators of lovely twee indie pop since 1989,
Slumberland's latest double shot comes from ex-June Brides legend Phil Wilson
and features his unique versions of tracks by Kraftwerk, Throbbing Gristle, S/T
and Faust. Mechanistic music morphed into marvellous mandolin capers might read
the headline. Yeah, here's some something deeply human and optimistic immerging
from the bleak scaffolds of the past, a summery sound that has me in mind of New
Zealand groups such as Tall Dwarfs or The Bats, or even Mark Edwards' My Dad Is
Dead (I think it's the drum machine and Wilson's dead-pan delivery). Perfect for
the next time you intend to break the hose pipe ban with a jug of ice cold
Pimm's in your hand. (Spencer Grady. Record Collector
Magazine). A double 7" on Slumberland next from oldie indie hero Phil Wilson,
formerly of C86ers The June Brides. 'Industrial Strength' is a covers EP of old
Krautrock and Industrial songs rendered in a minimal Sarah records style! I'm
gonna review it briefly and randomly. 'It's a Rainy day, Sunshine Girl' is all
repetitive scratchy jangle over a drum machine with very quietly intoned lyrics,
almost muffled. It sounds like a nervous Brilliant Corners demo, really charming
and deliciously out of step with all todays hideous hair rock and poseur indie
chancers. 'What Happens...Happens' is more introverted jangle over a drum
machine, Kraftwerks's 'Neon lights' is flecked with a Ukelele (?) and has the
most appealing poppy strum about it, a really, really sweet tune. I'm so glad
that people are still making "the old music" like this, there's an absolute
purity to it. 'United' is the Throbbing Gristle cover and sounds like early
Field Mice! This is the only one where his meek vocals are particularly audible
but no mind, this is a heartwarming tribute by a respected fringe artist to
other fringe artists who influenced him on his quiet journey through the years.
Indispensable for the greying John Peel acolyte in everyone! (Norman
Records) Where ya' been Phil??!! I'm if not mistaken Mr Wilson, the leader
of the mid-80;'s UK popsters the June Brides dissolved that band 2 decades ago.
After that he recorded some solo stuff for the Caff and Creation labels and
then..he vanished. Not sure what he was doing for all of that time (raising a
family? Selling shoes in the mall? Getting pissed every night? Maybe all 3
things?) but I'm glad that he's back. Anywho this 4-song ep is all covers (which
I had no idea since the cd had very little info and I go not press release) but
I guess he covers songs by Faust, Throbbing Gristle, S/T, and Kraftwerk (in a
bit of a Krautrock state of mind Phil?). Not sure what songs are by whom but the
songs are as follows; "Neon Lights", "United", "It's a Rainy Day, Sunshine
Girl", and "What Happens.Happens." They are all basically really trippy, folky,
and mostly acoustic. My favorites are the mystical sounding "United' and the
janglier "It's a Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl" but really all 4 songs are worth
hearing. Glad to have Mr. Wilson back and I caught him live here last week and
he put on a terrific show. (Tim Hinely, Daggerzine)