The Genius of Martin Phillipps and Van Dyke Parks AT THE SAME TIME!

Sorry I stopped using this, just a little freaked out about the formatting error in the R.E.M. post. Stupid I know, but time to get back to business. Lately I've been all about Van Dyke Parks. My obsession (not to use the term lightly) with kiwipop hasn't waned so much though. I just noticed that Parks did an arrangement for the Chills on their Soft Bomb LP called "Water Wolves" - only fitting for a psych-pop group recording in LA, right? Well, I thought I would put that up.

It is a dark, swirling arrangement that has a real VDP feel to it, so if you were impressed by his darkly Disney-esque work with Joanna Newsom this is essential hearing. Phillipps is at his best too working with Parks to capture a truly vivid nightmare. It is a dark, chilling ode to the fear of impending doom, closing any doubt that Martin Phillipps is a truly tortured and troubled soul. Well, enough about one song. The album is pretty good, not one of the Chills' best, but I am still very glad I managed to find it at Hollywood's Amoeba on my first visit to L.A. It's got more of a modern rock feel, but that's okay, especially on opener "The Male Monster from the Id." Like on "Water Wolves," Phillipps takes a frightening look into his own psyche as the lyrics which are basically confession of ones own potential to rape. Yes. Enjoy.


The Chills - Soft Bomb (1992)