Phi Yaan-Zek and his band of enigmatic minstrels request the pleasure of your company for the Interdimensional Garden Party at the Hour of Scampering, on the 33rd day of the Season of Enchantment in the Year of the Great Revealing.
So reads the center panel in the lush and colorful digipak version of UK-based guitarist Phi Yaan-Zek’s Interdimensional Garden Party -- his eleventh album packaged as if it came straight outta Teletubbyland.
He backs up that tempting invitation with songs just as grandiose, full of majesty and whimsy and some of the best damn musicianship you’ll hear on this 33rd day of the Season of Enchantment. Here we have 69 minutes of pure musical bewitchery inspired by the likes of Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Steve Vai, The Flower Kings, Devin Townsend and the Beatles. What's more, no fewer than 18 musicians and vocalists performed on this record (including John Jowitt on bass, Lalle Larsson on keys, Marco Minneman on drums and Mike Keneally on guitar).
Yaan-Zek’s clean soloing shines on tracks like “Superstar Christobal Vs. The Archdemon of Time” and “Sasquatch Stomp,” and the ensemble proves its worth on the epic 13-minute finale “The Puffball That Ate My Village” (yes, those are all actual song titles). Elsewhere, the more simply titled “Floating” smolders with the blues you didn’t even know -- but aren’t surprised -- Yann-Zek can play, and the novelty-based “Wickety-Wickety” sounds just like you might suspect. A special nod to vocalist Ellie Williams, too, who seriously soars on “My Favourite UFO.”
The kicker at the bottom of the party invitation inside the packaging encourages revelers looking for further information about the “event” to refer to the albums Solar Flare, Anomalies and Reality Is My Play Thing.
Good idea!
Track Listing:
1. Invitation
2. Interdimensional Garden Party
3. Superstar Christobal Vs. The Archdemon of Time
4. Sasquatch Stomp
5. Melusine
6. Wickety Wickety
7. May the Stars Shine Through You
8. Flying Saucery
9. Anomaly Temporal
10. My Favourite UFO
11. Floating
12. The Puffball That Ate My Village
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