Phideaux is an artsy rock project which harkens back to the era when albums were the ruling force and not just a dumping ground for filler and the "one good song". A plethora of guest musicians flank host Phideaux Xavier and his drummer Richard Hutchins as they unleash a beautiful sonic assault on their new album "Fiendish" (Bloodfish ZYZ 1001). Cellos, theremins and oboes abound on this album which has strands of Pink Floyd, Moody Blues and David Bowie (think Polyphonic Spree). Phideaux and Richard have worked together for many years making a hybrid of "classic" classic rock and post punk artrock music. Also available "Ghost Story" the latest installment. Caution: Phideaux music is infectious. A few words from the professionals.... "Xavier's skewed lyrics have a touch of (Syd) Barrett's spooked-sounding whimsy, and his 'wistful minstrel' voice certainly recalls that of the Moodies' Justin Hayward. Broadly speaking you'll detect shades of early Floyd (see '100 Mg Coda'), and a liking for trippy, sometimes baroque-sounding English folk, in which cellists, oboe players and harpsichordists (see 'Hellphone') help him indulge." James Halbert "Classic Rock Magazine" (March 2004) "Perhaps future generations will identify music as 'phideauxian.' In a truly just world, it would happen -- because Phideaux Xavier is a freakin' genius, and this CD has just utterly disrupted my plans for the 2003 Top Ten. ... If you can imagine a place where early Moody Blues, David Bowie, The Residents, The Beatles, Stephen Fearing, "Wish You Were Here"-era Pink Floyd, and Three Dog Night are having a long discussion about the inherent darkness in the human soul, you'd be somewhere in Fiendish's ballpark. But only somewhere." Duke Egbert "www.dailyvault.com" "Put simply, it is somewhat irrelevant what musical classification Fiendish will be pigeon-holed into. With songs this good who cares what you call it apart from a very fine effort by a very talented individual. " Mark Hughes "Dutch Progressive Rock Page" www.dprp.net "luckily Fiendish is not god-awful. ... The production is crisp and very intricate, and that's coming from listening to the album on a very nice set of headphones. Phideaux's music kind of fits into the prog rock category, sort of. He also incorporates many elements of folk and rock in the music." Dennis Scanlon "musicemissions.com" "He has a hell of a voice and writes great songs and orchestrates them brilliantly." "www.coolnoise.co.uk" "Phideaux is a one-man neo-psychedelic machine. His songs, although not always dark, are gothic, yet lyrically intelligent. Musically, he plays all the standard instruments skillfully, adding (or programming) fiddles, theremins, and other psychedelia." "southofmainstream.com" "This album is spacey folk rock with an alternative spin. But it's the lyrical content that sets it apart. His vocals scream of a Pink Floyd influence but the music is quite different relying on a folk rock approach with atmospheric-like space." J-Sin "smother.net" "Fiendish, an eclectic collection of narrative songs inspired by everything from Moody Blues, Pink Floyd and The Cure to Kate Bush, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Radiohead." "cybersocket.com"