Music
Press
”Phil Shivers” sounds like a name you would expect to see in the end-credits of a cheap horror movie. Instead it is Mikael Olesen, who, with his musical playmates, has made a classic Americana album. I’m Evil? might be from 1969 as well as from 2009: ”Timeless” is the most fitting cliché. With a quiet folk-vocal and a friendly nod towards country music, Mikael Olesen depicts the closer things in closest of ways. I’m Evil? doesn’t make a whole lot of noise, but it grows on you every time you listen to it. Another cliché! It is not easy to write free of truisms about music so archetypical, but in Phil Shivers case there is no need to invent the wheel. The melodies last, the arrangements are thorough and Olesens vocal is earnest. I’m Evil? bodes well for future records from Olesen and co!
In Danish
Indtrængende americana fra dansk inkognito-solist
”Phil Shivers” lyder som et navn, man ville forvente at se på rulleteksterne til en billig gyserfilm. Reelt dækker det over danske Mikael Olesen, der sammen med legekammeraterne Rasmus Jusjong og Kim Wagner har begået et helt klassisk americana-album. I’m Evil? kunne lige så godt være fra 1969 som 2009: ”Tidløs” er vel den mest passende kliché. Med lavmælt folk-vokal og et venligt nik til countrymusikken skildrer Olesen de helt nære ting på den helt nærværende måde. I’m Evil? gør ikke det store væsen af sig, men den vokser for hver gennemlytning. Endnu en kliché! Det er ikke nemt at skrive floskelfrit om en musik så arketypisk, men i Phil Shivers’ tilfælde er der ingen grund til at opfinde den dybe tallerken. Melodierne holder, arrangementerne er gennemarbejdede, og Olesens vokal er indtrængende. Kun tekster på engelsk og et påtaget sydstatsaccent står i vejen for den totale indlevelse på I’m Evil?, der lover godt for fremtidige udspil fra Olesen og kompagni. - www.gaffa.dk/anmeldelse/32488
Discography
"I'm Evil?" - 10 track ep released in March 2009
Photos
Bio
Phil Shivers is from Copenhagen. Rooted in the Americana/folk-genre Phil Shivers digs, with dobro/acoustic guitar and vocals at the center of things, deep into the singer/songwriter-tradition.
The music is centred on inviting tunes and gripping melancholy in “country/folk’s” own language. The songs are simple and sincere and creates room for details - and therefore an opportunity to sit down and listen and let you into the music. The simplicity and presence is the music’s strongest weapon.
I’m Evil? is my debut and has been recorded in a small wooden summer residence from the 70’s in just one week, with the notion: that the best way of doing things, is to do them yourself.
So far the Danish music magazine GAFFA has given Phil Shivers 4/6 for a record that “sets a very promising tone for future recordings from the Danish americana band”.
I believe that it’s live that the music has to be played and the audience has to be met.
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