Reviews

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, so I'm try to put every review we recieve up on these pages (whether it be good, bad or indifferent). If you've spotted or written one that doesn't appear here please let me know and I'll be sure to rectify the matter asap.

Selected Quotes:

"A blend of the traditional and the unorthodox forming a tractor beam around the ears" Mark Tucker - Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange (USA)

"Philip Butler is shaping up to be a seriously impressive folk artist with music to easily rival that of musicians with a much longer history in the folk scene" Kim Harten - Aquamarine Webzine

"Butler’s an odd one alright, a real talent who crosses genres with suave guile" Mick Mercer

"Philip knows how to create a good song. Fascinating layers of instrumentation combine with intricate and sometimes eccentrically crafted harmonies" Tim Carroll - Folkwords.com

"Absolutely Fantastic" Sideways Through Sound

"Quite clearly a great songsmith and a very accomplished multi-instrumentalist" Toxic Pete

Full Reviews

'Stories For Emily' 2010(7 Reviews)

'Trapped at Sea' 2009 (6 Reviews)

Latest review:

by Mick Mercer (.com)

December 2010

IVY BEHIND THE PLATE GLASS
Download

It appears there was to be an EP during the summer but plans went awry and this is the only track currently available, as a free download, and highly recommended for people with taste. You may already have cottoned on to this character’s intriguingly post-punk take on folk music, so I should point out that “Stories For Emily” and “Trapped At Sea”, two of my favourite albums of the past two years, can be had from his online shop. The first limited edition pressing of “Stories” has sold out, but the second run of the fabric-wrapped book version (different fabric, different photos inside) is now available. It’s an exceptional item, and only £6.

So, ‘Ivy’ is moody weirdness, sounds and spoken narrative sandwiched between bells and a vibrating guitar, some leisurely observations, and dignified organ with some emotional bliss squashed into the dirt, as you’d expect from a Simon & Garfunkel/Pink Floyd death match.

While I was ferreting around following the download trail I also chanced upon some other tracks (available at the second url), with the oddly catchy ‘In Our Talons’ where I really mean that it’s catchy in its odd delivery and the lyrics are pretty weird too. You can also find ‘Dominoes’, a Syd Barrett cover, apparently “off his less than excellent second album 'Barrett.'”

Anything Butler does should be of interest, which is why I mention these. If you’re looking for an unusual Xmas present for someone then one of the limited edition CDs would be well received. I’m sure.