Phonox Nights

2020年2月にこの世を去ったアンドリュー・ウェザオール最後のアルバム!生前ニーナ・ウォルシュをプロデューサーとして迎え彼女のスタジオFacility 4で制作した『Phonox Nights』リリース!!!

アンドリュー・ウェザオールと共にSabres of Paradiseレーベルを運営し、プライマル・スクリームのウェザオール・リミックスのヴォーカルも努めたニーナ・ウォルシュ。今作は本作は彼女の亡きパートナーである Erick Legrand が残した音源をウェザオールと共に引き継ぎ、発展させる形で完成した。アルバム名はブリクストンのクラブにちなんで名付けられたとのこと。アンドリューがニーナに促され、幽玄なシンセ・ラインを奏でる、洗練されたアシッドの威厳に満ちたタイトル・トラックから始まりゆっくりと燃えるアシッド・ハウスと光り輝くダブ・ディスコの歓喜に満ちたブレンドで、2人の30年にわたるクリエイティヴの頂点に立つ傑作!

The Woodleigh Research Facility was founded by longtime collaborators Andrew Weatherall and Nina Walsh -- during the 1990s, the two ran the Sabres of Paradise and Sabrettes labels. Walsh then formed Slab with the Drum Clubs Lol Hammond, collaborated with the Orb and Two Lone Swordsmen, released limited-edition 7" singles on her C-Pij imprint, and recorded curious avant-folk records under her own name. Beginning with 2015s The Phoenix Suburb (And Other Stories), the W.R.F. released a series of low-key records exploring Kraftwerk-inspired electro and Balearic dub-disco. Walsh continued the project following Weatheralls untimely death in early 2020, issuing numerous remaining productions from their extensive vault, as well as subsequent solo works. Phonox Nights, the duos final studio album, was eventually released in 2023. The record generally consists of steady, midtempo tracks with spacy synths and a slightly stoned bounce to them. The opening title cut is a bit more accelerated, and closer to acid house, than most of the others, with the suspenseful "Wolves Dont Chase Hope (They Chase Rabbits)" having the highest BPM. Otherwise, the album consists of pastoral synths and sweeping effects cruising along at an unhurried pace. "Bone Pointer" stands out due to its simmering dub bassline and occasional half-time beats. "Church of Burnt Offerings" features cascading tom-toms from the archive of Walshs late partner, Erick Legrand, but drifts further away from the dancefloor than the others, due to its lack of a kick drum. The pleasantly shimmering "One Part Disco" has a bassline recalling Two Lone Swordsmens clubbier early material. The album comes across as the result of a series of casual but inspired late-night sessions -- the music seems to emanate into the night sky like plumes of smoke from a cracked-open window. ~ Paul Simpson