Eilis Phillips – Moon Heart EP
Eilie Phillips - Moon Heart EP
Release Date: Out Now
Northern Irish singer-songwriter
Eilis Phillips is currently based in the UK doing a PhD in nineteenth-centurty
monstrosity and folklore but she also has a fervent interest in all things
interplanetary. Both of these passions come out to play on her new EP ‘Moon
Heart’ which kicks off with the hopeful and upbeat strum of ‘Boneshaker’ which
shows off Phillips’ voice as the melodious and folk infused instrument that it
is. On ‘Moon Hearted Bird’ the pace is slowed down to a more introspective and
Fleetwood Mac-esque sway as the gentle acoustic notes ripple and float with an
almost pagan energy through some sort of season defining ceremony.
I can’t imagine there are many
songs out there called ‘Malcolm’ (or Colin or Kevin for that matter) but
Phillips is nothing if not knowing of her own mind and the dreamy, twilight
vocals that are somewhere between the whimsy of Kate Bush and the harmonies of
Wildwood Kin are that rose by any other name that we so often hear of. I had to
Google ‘Bellerophon’ but it turns up he was the son of Poseidon, famous for riding
Pegasus and defeating a fire breathing monster called Chimera – not the kind of
lyrical theme you’d get from Justin Bieber I’d wager. Phillips, of course,
knows her subject matter but also knows how to create a real sense of history
with a sombre cello and gentle acoustic picking giving her ethereal voice space
to float and roam.
Now, I Googled ‘Maru’ as well but all I got was information
about Scottish cats so I’m not sure I’m on the right track here. Regardless,
this closing track is a gentle, beachy shuffle that speaks of the endings in
its vibe – perfect to soundtrack the last night of a holiday or the first day
after a break up. Phillips is one of those artists that could easily rattle out
a bunch of songs and they would be lovely without trying but these are infused
with stories, information and a real sense of something magical and you don’t
need a PhD to recognise that. Sorry.
More information: https://twitter.com/EilisPhillips