June 1999

Simon Phillips
Another Lifetime
Magna Carta Records

By Hilarie Grey

Drummer Simon Phillips has provided pulse-pounding foundations for such diverse artists as Pete Townsend, Mike Oldfield, Frank Zappa and Joe Satriani. He incorporates many of these experiences into the accomplished work Another Lifetime (Magna Carta MA 9033-2; 59:47), taking listeners from the hypnotic jungle rhythms of "Euphrates," to the slamming, guaranteed to make you drive faster "ESP." With stellar support from Andy Timmons and Ray Russell on guitars, Phillips offers a whirlwind tour of world-beat rhythms and textures on tunes like the hopeful, upward-moving "P.O.V." and heady, theatrical fusion wailer "Jungleyes." Phillips' rock-solid rhythms provide both guidance and deceit. Just when you think you know where he's going-like on the blues-paced "Freudian Slip"-he throws a curveball of disonant knotted guitar. These cleverly crafted arrangements illustrate just why Phillips' commanding play has successfully crossed so many genre lines over the years.