No Category

Shawn Phillips is clearly on a mission to — or from — a very, very different planet where normal music lovers like most of us are clearly totally out of touch aliens.

I thought I was missing something after listening to all 15 numbers on this CD. So I listened again. And again after that. Then I gave up.

I found absolutely nothing on this album even vaguely appealing and I would venture that there is actually not one number that will appeal to the ears of us mere mortals.

There is no specific style, feel or rhythm to Mr Phillips' renditions and such is the collective weirdness of the sounds he makes that it quite quickly becomes irritating. Perhaps the manufacturers of Doom insect spray might find some marketing inspiration from this collection.

Certainly, I would not have thought that it had any other commercial merit. Presumably somebody somewhere out there actually likes this freaky stuff. They might even be dilly enough to buy it.

Sorry Mr Phillips, 'No Category' has ended up in the junk box along with other CD’s of the same ilk, destined for donation to charity.

I notice that in the real world you are a fireman. I would suggest you don’t give up your day job.