Phil Stoodley - Single Review: Undercover
I was pleasantly surprised when I was reminded that I also reviewed Phil Stoodley's work 7 years ago. This was like a coming of age moment and having recently returned to the duties of music reviewing, I thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgia of that memory.
The new single by Phil is entitled Undercover. This beauty is a real mood maker from the very start, with some very harmonious piano playing to the backdrop of the beaches of Bali. Having looked back at my review of Phil's previous song No Surprises, I was shocked to see how critical I was, as I was well and truly immersed in this charming number.
Most of the music I listen to is hard and heavy; I like to go hard and enjoy a good rush, but as a friend of mine, who is a massive Motorhead fan, once said "sometimes you just need to listen to some Enya, to balance the soul" and Undercover does this to such an incredible degree that I found it somewhat difficult to write the next part of this review.
My biggest disappointment about this single is when it ends; it almost falls off the cliff. I feel like it could have continued for longer, which is definitely not a bad thing. I felt like I was transcending into a spiritual coma of goodness as the melody sent me off to far-away lands, only for it to come to a sudden end. In my world, if that is the worst thing about this song, then there really isn't anything stopping you from also enjoying this song.
I really like this offering, and I highly recommend it to everybody, no matter what type of music you enjoy. Phil Stoodley has exceeded my expectations, and I am pretty sure he will exceed yours too. Keep up the good work Phil, I look forward to seeing what the future holds for you.
About Phil Stoodley
Phil’s early path as a musician was forged touring across New Zealand both on stage in various bands and off stage working in music production. The early 2000's saw him touring the UK, Europe, the US, and Asia as a session player for one of New Zealand’s best-loved and multi-platinum selling bands The Feelers, which led to a number of successful musical ventures including Phil’s own rock band Stoods and the opening slot for international bands including Velvet Revolver, Simple Minds, and Neil Finn.
Over the years, Phil’s recognition grew with his debut single Waiting For Thursday, a self-produced album No Surprise and his work as co-writer and producer for Hanna Grace's debut album Concrete & Roses and single In The Rain, along with compositions for TV, film, and commercials. 2012 saw the EP release of the electronic project Shaker Zulu - Funking Bell, a collaboration project with New Zealand's piano/ keys extraordinaire Andy Keys.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Phil Stoodley
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