E.G. Phillips is not your average listening experience. Vivid, and minimalistic, yet elegant and gentle, the American troubadour’s musical output is inherently personal and intimate, delving into cinematic chamber Folk as much as they do into evocative Americana and traditional rock territories. ‘Tricks of the Light’ is the perfect evidence of that. Phillips’ latest effort, the EP contains a stunning opener, ‘From the Corner of My Eye’, a piece that’s also treated to an animated music video.
Rather mysterious and anthemic, the visuals in ‘From the Corner of My Eye’ look really good and high-level, with Justin Lacy lending his creative hand to Phillips’ cause. The storytelling in both the song and video is cryptic, yet quite legendary. As the American musician explains, “a surreal tale inspired by William Blake’s The Tyger. Set against a haunting arboreal backdrop, the narrator glimpses a tiger that might be real or imagined—a ‘trick of the light’ that lingers as a metaphor for fleeting moments of tangible connection with nature.”
From a sonic standpoint, ‘From the Corner of My Eye’ feels quite classically driven, perhaps thanks to the chamber ensemble that recorded it. Featuring Omree Gal-Oz (piano), Curtis Aikens (upright bass), and Chloe Mendola (cello), with additional contributions from Daniel Riera (flute) and Sarah Bonomo (clarinet), the piece benefits from a great deal of mellow tones and quirky arrangement solutions, giving the single and the overall album a timeless, cathartic quality. Phillips’ brooding, heartwarming vocals are the perfect match for an already magical effort.
Recommended! Discover ‘From the Corner of My Eye’ on YouTube:
