Arab Strap
Philophobia

THE REVIEW

For anyone who needs to smoke a cigarette, in the middle of the night, walking in the cold winter of a deserted city… for anyone who needs to close their eyes and imagine being someone else somewhere else, or simply for those who want to be told stories, whose "characters are genuine and any resemblance to real people, living or dead, is purely intentional".

The alcoholic and smoky voice of Aidan Moffat seems to stumble over every word, driven by the strength to never want to resign and to pass through the thick and humid mist that penetrates right into your thoughts, produced by the guitar (and electronic gadgets) of Malcolm Middleton. The strength that you get even when you would like to let yourself fall right there, it doesn't matter where you are; but that allows you to bring your bones home once again… tired after a colossal drunkenness.

"Philophobia" is a nocturnal album, sometimes dark and mysterious… rarefied. There are no strong tones, it never goes off track, it never sounds loud, but it is painted with a wide range of grays and chiaroscuro… 13 photographic snapshots of everyday life, packaged with a sonic minimalism that evokes more the works of Sherwood Anderson and Raymond Carver set to music for a film script, than the post-rock or sophisticated pop it is often labeled with…

"I took off her clothes and played with her for a while and she did the same, but it took me forever to come. Too old and almost drunk… There is nothing like lying… I told Laura: - I hope I will know you forever and when I leave, I want to do it in the Viking way. Lay me in a boat with my most precious belongings, set me on fire, and send me on my way. Gift me with a kick to the sea-".

"Philophobia" is an album for those who are not in a hurry, for those who are not forced to live in anguish under the daylight… for those who don't want to go to sleep.