"are you ever really happy?"
When L.A. based singer and multi-instrumentalist Phil Danyew mentions "the dreamy sounds of analog gear and tape saturation" in regards to the influences of his new project Elephant Castle I knew that I might be in for a pleasant surprise because not only did he know about the tape saturation phenomenon (bare in mind I will gleefully talk about TS over drinks for a solid half hour) but he was fond of it and fond of 60's rock and layered vox. Danyew's love of these classic analog sounds and styles becomes even more apparent when you hear Elephant Castle's debut single Cool To Be Unhappy.
From the onset, he seems to have fun whooshing back to a retro inspired sound done up with current vibes and while you can feel anomalies of modern plugins and vocoder-esque styles and purposeful distortion he fuses them with 60's chamber pop affectations in a deeply heavenly way. Even though the lyrics are bittersweet, the track feels so exquisitely celebratory within that bottom heavy downbeat and scattershot drumming. It is just what I needed to hear during these difficult times.
Raised in Oceanside, CA, Danyew has been writing and recording music since age 12 after stealing his father’s tape recorder. Growing up listening to 50s and 60s oldies (The Beatles, Beach Boys, Elvis, The Mamas and Papas, The Byrds, The Temptations), Elephant Castle is a response to these early influences infused with a love for analog synthesizers. - (press notes)
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
Elephant Castle - the retro inspired indie rock project from Los Angeles-based singer and multi-instrumentalist Phil Danyew - releases its debut single, “Cool To Be Unhappy” on March 27, 2020. Inspired by 60’s rock, layered vocals, and the dreamy sounds of analog gear and tape saturation, Elephant Castle presents a fresh take on the break-up ballad with debut single “Cool To Be Unhappy”.
Raised in Oceanside, CA, Danyew has been writing and recording music since age 12 after stealing his father’s tape recorder. Growing up listening to 50s and 60s oldies (The Beatles, Beach Boys, Elvis, The Mamas and Papas, The Byrds, The Temptations), Elephant Castle is a response to these early influences infused with a love for analog synthesizers.
For the last six years, Danyew was a touring member of the band Foster the People. He recently quit to pursue his own music.
For the last six years, Danyew was a touring member of the band Foster the People. He recently quit to pursue his own music.
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