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The third studio album from New Zealand's proudest indie sons is "in the can". That means it’s finished and ready to be released. While the rest of the world is only now catching onto the music of this 6-piece Wellington based group, we the people of the land of the long white cloud are fortunate enough to be gifted "Happy Ending" in October through Flying Nun.
Between November ‘06 and July ‘07 the Phoenix Foundation returned to renowned Wellington studio The Surgery to record once again with long-time producer Lee Prebble (the Black Seeds, other things). The results were then mailed off to be mastered by Howie Weinburg in New York, which means that it all sounds quite professional, even compared to records from other countries. Not only has Weinburg previously worked with the Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana and Public Enemy… but he’s also worked with Whitney Houston.
"Happy Ending" is the follow-up to their acclaimed, gold selling 2005 album Pegasus, and marks a bold departure from horse themed album titles. Speaking of departures... as founding Foundation member Sam Flynn Scott explains, the new record is bound to come across as a lot more relaxed sounding than their recent work. "We put in a lot more work this time, but stressed a lot less... For this record we were really into in layered vocal pop, in a slightly proggy way... pure synthetic joy & vocal insanity".
But first…., a bit of background…..The Phoenix Foundation formed in 1997 and having jammed for a couple of years, recorded their debut album HorsePower in 2003. Horsepower went on to become one of the most acclaimed New Zealand albums of the year, and was the only album to be nominated for ‘’Best Album’’ at both the NZ Music Awards and the Bnet Awards. It was voted the Best NZ Album by nzmusic.com, and the only local album selected in The Listener's Top Ten Albums of 2003.
2nd album Pegasus reached gold sales in New Zealand without any commercial radio support and consolidated the band’s reputation for astral-influenced sonic-conscious alternative pop. The album was also nomination for ‘’best album’’ in the ‘05 NZ Music Awards,. ‘’The Press called it “A work of genius’, ‘’beautiful, thrilling, moving music’’. Said Real Groove Magazine.
Just incase this isnt impressive enough, The Phoenix Foundation are now slowly but surely starting to make waves on the international music scene.
Following some dizzying time spent in the Smashing Pumpkins' top friends on Myspace, the Phoenix Foundation's debut album "Horsepower" was finally released in the USA in June, through New York indie label Young American Recordings, to very reasonable critical acclaim. The band signed a 2-album deal with the label late last year after 2 successful U.S showcase tours in 2006, which included performances at the 2006 ‘’CMJ Festival’’ in New York.
And, during their recent epic tour of the United States - which saw The Phoenix Foundation Experience playing shows with The Veils, Flight of the Conchords and Voxtrot - the lads were invited to play at the Eagle vs Shark movie premiere in New York, directed by Oscar nominated New Zealand director Taika Waititi. It should also be mentioned here that the Phoenix Foundation also penned the soundtrack to said film, and feature heavily throughout it, emphasizing the awesomeness of various bits of it with their heavily appropriate music.
But, back to ‘’Happy Ending’’. Seeing as it's the third album, and the Phoenix Foundation have developed some pretty impressive friend-gathering-skills, it's only natural that "Happy Ending" features several highly talented and good looking special guests, including:
Christian Biegai (Antony & the Johnsons) on saxophone, Thomas Callwood (Bunnies on Ponies, Little Bushman) on cello, an all male choir featuring Wellington icons Age Pryor, Jeremy Taylor & Craig Terris, Nic McGowan on an impressive array of synths, Sarah Lineham on delightful vocals in Omerta which also features the impressive string arranging skills of Tom McLeod. Tom also wrote the charming strings that brought "Pure Joy" into focus for the band.
Keep your ears and eyes polished for "Bright Grey", the rollicking first single to be released from "Happy Ending" and the lead-off track on the record. The video for the song was shot by their new best friend, Taika Waititi, and has been described as "an extravaganza of light". Other tunes on the album will sound familiar too, with live favourites like "40 Years" finding a home at last.
So the new record runs the gamut of genre, as the Phoenix Foundation are known to do. In fact, this band mocks the very invention of the word “genre”. Country, indie, ambient… all are laid to waste here in expert style. Expect the unexpected. Expect incredible pop songs. Expect to really, really like this album.
You can also expect to hear these new songs live in November, when the Phoenix Foundation Orchestra once more flex their live muscles, and launch their nation-wide album release tour in support of “Happy Ending”.
And if thats not something to look forward to well...I dont know what is.
The Phoenix Foundation are:
Mr Samuel Flynn Scott - guitars, vocals
Dr Luke Buda - guitars, vocals, keys
Prof. Conrad Wedde - guitars, keys
Snr Warner Emery - bass guitar
Mssr Richie Singleton - drums
The Hon. Will Ricketts – percussion
For more accurate and honest information visit:
www.thephoenixfoundation.co.nz
www.myspace.com/thephoenixfoundationnz
For management/booking enquiries contact:
matt@thephoenixfoundation.co.nz
craig@thephoenixfoundation.co.nz
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