Phish Still Exploring Collective Creativity May 28, 2004 - Official Elektra Press Release By Parke Puterbaugh Album Review - Undermind Few bands have lasted as long or been as influential as Phish, yet the group is still exploring its collective creativity and finding new peaks to scale. UNDERMIND, Phish's twelfth studio album, takes another giant step forward. It's both poppy and experimental, ranging from instantly alluring, well-crafted songs (The Connection, Nothing) to material with a denser complexion (A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, Scents and Subtle Sounds). I feel our albums keep getting somewhat more accessible, yet at the same time they sound more unique to us, reflects bassist Mike Gordon. It's fortunate that both ends of the spectrum are being stretched. The album coheres around strong performances and the highly creative production of Tchad Blake, a sonic adventurer who's worked with the likes of Peter Gabriel, Los Lobos, Tom Waits, and The Bad Plus. Blake's input was important to the band, who were happy to turn over the reins to a producer they trusted. We were looking for a producer who was compatible and yet someone who came in with their own opinions, says keyboardist Page McConnell. It was good to bring someone into the fold with a different sensibility and perspective, some fresh ideas and fresh ears. It was a really nice collaboration, and we're thrilled with the way it sounds. We knew Tchad wanted to work quickly and not get bogged down, to keep the flow going, and we were ready to do it that way, adds Gordon. UNDERMIND came together in a relaxed yet focused atmosphere during a month of sessions at guitarist Trey Anastasio's Barn studio, near the band's home base of Burlington, Vermont. Unusual for them, the album was largely cut by the light of day. From its very first track, Scents and Subtle Sounds (Intro), the album challenges the listener to re-engage the world from a fresh perspective: If you would only start to live one moment at a time You would, I think, be startled by the things that you would find Like scents you've never noticed and many subtle sounds Like colors in the landscape and textures of the town Then the winds would lift you up into the skies above And you'd be treated to a view of everything you love. That sense of reawakening continues with the title track, which playfully clatters along like a cart with a broken wheel as Anastasio sings of being reinvented, redefined, rearranged but not refined words that might well apply to Phish in 2004. Most of the material on UNDERMIND was written by the prolific duo of Anastasio and Tom Marshall Trey's longtime friend, lyricist, and collaborator. The other members kicked in a song apiece, making this the first Phish album since 1990's LAWN BOY to feature songs by all four members. Gordon's funny, poignant Access Me features close-harmony vocals from Mike and Trey that they both recall as a high point of the recording process. Fishman contributed the vocal chant Tomorrow's Song, enhanced by Blake's dubby, effects-filled production. Army of One marks the first time Phish has cut a song of McConnell's with lyrics, and its Band-like, gospel feel and keening, soulful vocal make it a standout. Inventive production, arrangements, and playing can be found throughout UNDERMIND. Taking a cue from Blake's experimental bent, Gordon played five different basses on the album a first for him. McConnell laid down multiple keyboard parts including Hammond organ, Yamaha synthesizer, and Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos to create the sculptural textures on Undermind. Anastasio stretches out on A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, a slab of piercing, ornate psychedelia that Fishman likens to Hendrix circa ELECTRIC LADYLAND.' The intimate, lyrical Secret Smile features drums that sound like heartbeats and gorgeous strings from noted composer/arranger Maria Schneider. The album closes with Grind, Phish's first original piece of barbershop quartet. Even this whimsical finale betrays the group's ambition, as they submitted it to Joe Lilles one of the foremost barbershop arrangers in the country to write an arrangement specifically geared to their vocal ranges. UNDERMIND also has a lot of just plain solid, inspired songwriting, such as Two Versions of Me and Crowd Control. The group hits a pinnacle with The Connection, which is the most immediate and accessible song they've ever recorded. It is a burnished gem, a song so simple, tuneful, and unpretentiously eloquent that you could swear it's always been there. When Trey brought in the demo for 'The Connection,' I thought it was one of the most beautiful songs I'd ever heard, recalls Fishman. To be able to write one song in your life with that level of simplicity and depth is a great thing. My respect for Trey and Tom as a songwriting team went through the roof. It was a sense of, 'This is really a sign of growth. Look at what this is developing into and I get to contribute to this? What an opportunity! Review © 2004 Elektra Entertainment