Duncan Sheik Phantom Moon CD

On his third album, and first in nearly three years, songwriter and singer Duncan Sheik more closely examines the territory he explored on 1998's Humming with two exceptions: The arrangements are even more sparse, and the songs were written in collaboration with poet and playwright Steven Sater, who wrote all the lyrics on Phantom Moon. That said this is easily Sheik's strongest, and most mature record to date. In fact, it's downright moving emotionally, even with Sheik's trademark detachment, perhaps because of it. On the album's prelude, "The Wilderness," Sheik accompanies himself with a harmonium and a piano, singing "The word is told now/the word is said/the word is old now/and the stone is bread/the heart is bone, now/the heart is flesh/the heart is known, now/and the no is yes." And that's it. It's over, but the major concerns of this "song cycle" have been set in motion. Simply put, all of the songs on Phantom Moon gaze deeply into the heart, that jeweled organ that is considered by all faiths to be the true center of the human being, the true mind. In various settings, either a guitar, a dobro, a piano, minimal drums and bass, or the London Session Orchestra frame these songs with a stark framework to allow their fragile melodies -- highlighted by Sheik's gorgeous baritone -- and poetic lyrics to come to the fore. One song ends as the next begins, nearly overlapping, carrying the listener ever deeper into a space of reflection and appreciation for this aesthetic whisper of an album. If ever Sheik were compared to Nick Drake, Phantom Moon would be the appropriate location for such a comparison, with the haunted string section framing "Sad Stephen's Song," with its skeletal dobro and dulcimer. Or perhaps the (relatively) up-tempo folk song structure of "Time and Good Fortune," which is lushly -- if understatedly so -- orchestrated by the not only the LSO but by Sheik's use of glockenspiel, harmonium, banjo, double bass, and drums. This track sounds as if Phil Ochs were singing a song written by Drake and arranged by John Cale. The listener wonders where the film is to accompany such striking yet subtle imagery. And with the appearance of labelmate Bill Frisell on the beautiful melancholy th

Recorded at Sear Sound Incorporated, TMF, New York, New York; Angel, London, England; Other Room Studios, Seattle, Washington.

Personnel: Duncan Sheik (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, tenor guitar, piano, harmonium, organ, glockenspiel, bells); Gerry Leonard (guitar, dobro, banjo, dulcimer); Bill Frisell (electric guitar); Matt Johnson (tamboura, drums); Dave Woodcock, Simon Fischer, Rolf Wilson, Boguslaw Kostecki, Rita Manning, Gavyn Wright (violin); Roger Chase, Garfield Jackson, Bruce White (viola); Tony Pleeth, Martin Loveday (cello); Andrew Findon (flute); Nick Rodwell (clarinet); Jon Anderson (oboe); Julie Andrews (bassoon); Richard Watkins (French horn); Jeff Allen (acoustic bass, double bass); Mino Cinelu (drums, percussion).

Audio Mixers: Steef Van De Gevel; Tommy Dekorte; Ryoji Hata; Kevin Reilly; Kevin Killen.

Recording information: Angel Studios, Islington, London, England (05/2000-10/2000); Other Room Music, Seattle, WA (05/2000-10/2000); Sear Sound Inc., New York, NY (05/2000-10/2000); TMF Studios, New York, NY (05/2000-10/2000).

Photographer: Michael Wilson .

Arranger: Simon Hale.

Personnel includes: Duncan Sheik (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonium, piano, organ, glockenspiel, bells); Simon Hale (arranger, conductor); Bill Frisell (electric guitar); Gerry Leonard (guitar, banjo, dobro, dulcimer); Gavyn Wright, Dave Woodcock, Rita Manning, Jaejy Shave, Pat Kiernan (violin); Roger Chase, Bruce White, Garfield Jackson (viola); Tony Pleeth, Martin Loveday (cello); Andy Findon (flute); Nick Rodwell (clarinet); Jon Anderson (oboe); Julie Andrews (bassoon); Richard Watkins (French horn); Jeff Allen, Mary Scully (upright bass); Matt Johnson (drums, tambora); Mino Cinelu (drums, percussion); The London Session Orchestra.Entertainment Weekly (3/2/01, p.71) - "...Honors the intimate lamentations of '70s legend Nick Drake....Sheik favors lushness over Drake's stark beauty, but he deserves credit for sticking to his pretty, non-pop-chart minor chords." - Rating: B
Q (7/01, p.116) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...An artsy venture....that gives a rare spectral shine to melancholic laments..."
CMJ (3/26/01, p.19) - "...From its pristine acoustic setting to the mellow sweep of strings brought in by the London Session Orchestra, PHANTOM MOON is an album of sparkling beauty..."