Metalville Records is reissuing PHENOMENA‘s album ”Psycho Fantasy” on LP / 2-CD Digipak version featuring refreshed artwork and including into a bonus disc the original demos from the “Psycho Fantasy” sessions released for the first time.
Tom Galley started the wonderful Phenomena project in the 80s and the first 3 albums featured big names from the hard rock scene such as Glenn Hughes, Cozy Powell, Don Airey, Neil Murray, Brian May, Mel Galley and John Wetton, among others.
For the fourth Phenomena installment Galley had again illustrious names like Hughes, Tony Martin (ex Black Sabbath), Keith Murrell (Mama’s Boys), Lee Small (Lionheart) and more on lead vocals.
Galley is the main songwriter and producer of the album, and invited his old friends Glenn Hughes, Tony Martin, Keith Murrell, Lee Small, Matt Moreton, Joy Strachan as the vocalists; Mel Galley, Andy Shortland, and J.J. Marsh (Glenn Hughes Band, Tomas Bodin) on guitars; Richard Lynn on bass; Orlin Radinsky on drums; and last but not least Ian Rowlands and Tom Brown on keyboards.
This Phenomena 4th output proves to be a darker and more experimental work than its earlier hard rock-based versions. Galley has incorporated lots of electronic keyboard patches, acoustic elements, and vocalists with varied singing styles.
The result is both a heavy, rocking album with numbers like “Sunrise” and “Higher”; as well as more textured cuts that have aggressive vocals duelling with multiple vocal harmonies on “Killing for the Thrill”. Songs like “So Near So Far” and “60 Seconds”, on the other hand, project a more progressive sound, combining subtle keys with slow melodies on the former; and electronics and acoustic guitars supplementing beautiful female vocals on the latter.
“Crazy Grooves” will no doubt be a shock to the typical rock fan in that it is infinitely layered, featuring many vocals, and a thick groove beneath it.
Galley’s writing here is more focused on emphasizing Hughes and Martins’ vocal melodies with the other singers backing them up. Glenn is on top form as ever and it’s good to hear talented Keith Murrell again.
Whilst ”Psycho Fantasy” doesn’t reaches the classic status of the first two LP’s this is nonetheless a damn fine album and a must for fans of the Phenomena project. The original takes / demos showcases an interesting view of the album creation and development.
Sunrise
Touch My Life
Killing For The Thrill
So Near So Far
Chemical High
Higher
Sixty Seconds
Crazy Grooves
How Do You Feel?
All That I Need
God Forgives
Higher (demo)
How Do You Feel (demo)
So Near So Far (demo)
Sunrise (demo)
Touch My Life (demo)
Walking The Floor (demo)