Acoustic Philosophy

Dark and smoky, Acoustic Philosophy (http:/www.acousticphilosophy.com) produce folk music for Gotham City.

The enigmatic vocals of Phil Celia echo the nocturnal brooding of Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, and Jim Morrison, but the arrangements have a less sinister flair.

As advertised by their name, Acoustic Philosophy take a stripped-down approach; however, this is no boring unplugged device. Guitarist Celia, bassist Eric Richardson, and percussionist Steve Ferraris have an electrifying chemistry; like the Violent Femmes more than twenty years ago they're able to "rock" with the most mellow of instruments.

The African-styled drum beats recall early Santana and War, giving the songs an exotic flavor simply because those percussive sounds have been out of fashion for so long. Here's a case where a retro style does feel fresh and cutting edge.


Celia's voice perfectly matches the film noir grooves of his mates. On "Fallen Star," there is a shadowy beauty to his voice that is truly mesmerizing. On "Hungry for You," his downbeat Lou Reed-ish delivery complements the ominous bass. "Open Sky" reveals his versatility, recalling the bluesy crooning of Mark Lanegan. - Whisperin' and Hollerin UK

Acoustic Philosophy
Acoustic Philosophy II
Dark Moon Records
Maybe it was a backlash against grunge, but I can't remember when it was suddenly cool to go "unplugged." It feels like a lifetime ago, even though it's probably only been a couple of years. Upon receiving the latest CD by Acoustic Philosophy, red flags were raised. The unplugged approach has gone past the saturation point; after a while it all blurs together.

Thankfully, Acoustic Philosophy aren't playing by the rules. For one thing, they have these cinematic African bongo sounds in their percussion. These tribal rhythms add color to the mix, a sense of voodoo danger that heightens the tension. Furthermore, the riffs are not made up of generic strumming. It sickens me how so many musicians are cashing in without even playing interesting chords. Phil Celia has a narrator's voice that enables us to see as well as feel his words. His emotions are held back, letting listeners fill in the blanks. The lyrics aren't generic, either, distancing Acoustic Philosophy further from their contemporaries.

If there was a group to compare Acoustic Philosophy to, it would be Morphine, whose mood-spinning tales were equally compelling. - INK 19

Acoustic Philosophy (http://www.acousticphilosophy.com) create soft music with shadows around the edges.

You can classify it as folk, but somehow that doesn't summarize the feel that the band is aiming for. The group casts a late '60s spell, but not the expected psychedelic effects. Nevertheless, you feel as if you've walked into a room of stoned hippies once you listen to it. The interlocking rhythm - guitar, bass, and percussion - draw you into another world, a black-and-white alternate reality where the sun's light barely seeps through.

Usually "dark music" is synonymous with "depressing." However, that's not the case with Acoustic Philosophy. Although vocalist Phil Celia can be brooding at times, he doesn't drag us into the depths of misery.

Acoustic Philosophy have recorded one of the year's most mysteriously beautiful records. And its enigmatic qualities are worth investigating repeatedly.
- Girl Posse

"....an effects free trip through the acoustic universe with all sounds lovingly and literally hand crafted by this three man team ...an all natural sounding record that finds a way to stay both easy and forwardly mobile and the same time." - Northeast Performer

A trio whose organic sound goes down smooth and easy. Celia’s vocal rasps acts as an appealing sauce for a sound that’s suffused with warmth….” - Music Connection - LA

Interesting sexy n groovy bluesy fun track with shuffling bongo's,cheeky acoustic and great understated vocals that hint at the power they contain.. - GarageBand.com