War of the Wakening Phantoms

Amazon.com
Although hailing from the francophone Montreal, the High Dials sound like pure first-wave British invasion with their close breathy harmonies, dreamy pop collages and intelligent wordplay. In fact anything on Wars Of the Wakening Phantoms, their mystically-titled second album could have been lifted from some lost Kinks sessions, if they morphed into the late career Flaming Lips without anyone being the wiser, right down to the high-minded philosophy couched in deceptively beautiful psychedelia and the smart, sardonic asides. This time out the Canadian quintet abandoned both their mod retro aesthetic and the concept album approach of 2003's New Devotion" for a more enigmatic song suite where the phantoms of the title aren't the kind that go bump in the night, but are the ghosts of lost love and innocence. If nothing else, this record is a compelling journey through heartbreak. --Jaan Uhelszki

Product Description
The High Dials Are Back with their Second Album "War of the Wakening Phantoms. This is a Brilliant Recording of Jangle Psychedelia and Colorful Melodies with a New Romantic Touch, Reminiscent of the Flaming Lips (Soft Bulletin) with Cure-esque Guitars that Move Throughout the Album to Give it a Big Mercury Rev Feel with More Synths. "War of the Wakening Phantoms" Takes the High Dials a Little More Into the New Wave Then their First Effort "a New Devotion".

War of the Wakening Phantoms,The High Dials,Rainbow Quartz,Indie Rock,Pop,Pop Underground,Rock,Rock/Pop

War of the Wakening Phantoms

Average customer rating:

Surprising Blend Of All Things Good
WOW !!!!
a musical treasure
best cd of the year
War of the wakening phantoms

War of the Wakening Phantoms
The High Dials
Manufacturer: Rainbow Quartz
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

A New Devotion
Our Love Will Change the World
The Trials of Van Occupanther
Fields in Glass
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood

ASIN: B0009R1A1C
Release Date: 2005-06-13

Tracks:

The Holy Ground
Soul In Lust
Our Time Is Coming Soon
Strandhill Sands
Winter Ghosts
Sick With The Old Fire
Master Of The Clouds
The Lost Explorer
The Drum
A River Haunting
Higher And Brighter
Lucifer's Dream
Your Eyes Are A Door
Dust In The Sun

Amazon.com

Although hailing from the francophone Montreal, the High Dials sound like pure first-wave British invasion with their close breathy harmonies, dreamy pop collages and intelligent wordplay. In fact anything on Wars Of the Wakening Phantoms, their mystically-titled second album could have been lifted from some lost Kinks sessions, if they morphed into the late career Flaming Lips without anyone being the wiser, right down to the high-minded philosophy couched in deceptively beautiful psychedelia and the smart, sardonic asides. This time out the Canadian quintet abandoned both their mod retro aesthetic and the concept album approach of 2003's New Devotion" for a more enigmatic song suite where the phantoms of the title aren't the kind that go bump in the night, but are the ghosts of lost love and innocence. If nothing else, this record is a compelling journey through heartbreak. --Jaan Uhelszki

Album Details

The High Dials Are Back with their Second Album "War of the Wakening Phantoms. This is a Brilliant Recording of Jangle Psychedelia and Colorful Melodies with a New Romantic Touch, Reminiscent of the Flaming Lips (Soft Bulletin) with Cure-esque Guitars that Move Throughout the Album to Give it a Big Mercury Rev Feel with More Synths. "War of the Wakening Phantoms" Takes the High Dials a Little More Into the New Wave Then their First Effort "a New Devotion".

Customer Reviews:

Surprising Blend Of All Things Good.......2006-04-06

caught the high dials opening for neko case recently, and was quite surprised by how good they were. often opening bands are dull and you simply wait for them to finish, but i found myself really enjoying this band's blend of psychedelic new wave.

bought 'war of the wakening phantoms' the next day and it's been in steady rotation. the combination of influences and styles on display in these songs is intriguing: a blend of 60's psychedlia mixed with liberal dashes of 80's new wave and 90's britpop. with nods to bands from U2 to ride to the stone roses to echo & the bunnymen all coming onto the canvas to provide a welcome and familiar colour, the high dials filter it all through a melodic filter of stylings ranging from the early mod leanings of the who to the jangly psyche-pop of the byrds.

all of which is not to say that the album is derivitive or immitative -- it is quite an original pastiche, have no doubt. but like many young bands these days, the high dials don't shy away from a love of music from the 80's. it makes for a very interesting blend, the melodies and harmonies sitting nicely against the keyboards and the ocassional sitar (!). the end result is an album that feels like an old friend, one that sits quite comfortably on the cd shelf next to it's forebears and amongst it's contemporaries.

standouts:

the gorgeous opener 'the holy ground', an infenctious rave-up that bears many a repeat listen. 'winter ghosts', which is bowie meets jethro tull by way of genesis -- and that's saying something! check out 'sick with the old fire' where the band conjures the ghost of the ocean blue, which they do as well on 'strandhill sands' and 'a river haunting'.

overall, i'm impressed -- i don't listen to as much rock as i used to as i find so much of it is plodding, stale, or disposeable. but the high dials album is an interesting and diverse collection of songs that keep things airy and wide, never wallowing in the densities and dark that so many bands choose to explore.

a most welcome breath of fresh air. check it out.

WOW !!!!.......2006-01-27

Wow, Cet album est excellent. Le choix du meilleur entre le 1er et celui-ci est difficile car ils sont tous deux formidables. Enfin un groupe au son unique. Vive Québec et surtout la musique du Québec.

Saluto

a musical treasure.......2005-12-22

This album weds melodic guitar parts, mostly in major keys, with catchy yet subtle rhythms. Each song is distinct, although they maintain a warm and consistent vibe throughout. Like any truly great album, I'm constantly changing my mind as to which song is my favorite; unlike many more pedestrian albums, I almost never find myself skipping over any.

They were the best live show (by far) of all the bands I saw in 2005, which must have included at least 30 concerts. If you're lucky enough to have them play in your town, make sure you go see them.

best cd of the year.......2005-10-16

All great songs. Many different sounds, from the sitar to the mandolin. Kind of hard to describe. some of it sounds like it's from the 70's and then it really sounds like it's from the 80's. Definetly worth a listen, best cd I've purchased in a while.

War of the wakening phantoms .......2005-09-29

Best CD I have bought this year. Songs are all excellent.

Rap Music: