Cactus Killer Records is proud to present “Candelaria,” the new album from Phillip Eno. What started as an ode to Asian cinema—its film titles, story lines and characters—soon evolved into a tribute to Lito Vales’ mother, who passed away in March after a short bout with leukemia. The physical and emotional strain of her illness and the sadness of her death can be heard in this impressive collection of songs. With its varying sounds, moods and lyrics, “Candelaria” has proven to be the band’s best effort to date. "Phillip Eno, an offshoot of sublime New York indie rockers Uncletoe's Portasound, have delivered an album of gorgeous ambient dreampop. My New Day is the soundtrack to the best dream you've ever had, quite simply its stunningly beautiful. Silky smooth female vocals married to an exquisite collage of dreamy electronica. This is the sound of Slowdive jamming with Air, with The Cures Robert Smith on guitars against the most perfect sunrise you've ever seen. Stunning. Argento is another beautiful moment, sprinklings of shimmering synth effects play out against fuzzy guitar lines while Nerissa Vales sublime vocals seduce you with breathy intensity. The programmed drum beats that are in effect on this album are a real harkback to mid eighties-early nineties bands like Joy Division, New order or Depeche Mode, and are perfectly in keeping with the synth pop/electronica feel that permeates the record. Too Late, in particular with its bass and drumbeat introduction that leads to trance keyboard motifs is like a long lost New Order song, the kind of thing you'd expect to find playing in a Manchester club in the early nineties. Philip Eno are one of those bands whose music can transport you to different places, each song taking you on journeys that take you out of your everyday life and into the headspace of the band. Its a special group that can do this and Philip Eno do it with ease. The Window, is a much more atmospheric avant garde excursion - a build up of experimental noise drifts in and out over a constant driving beat, while Nerissa Vales sings sweet repetitive melodies like a nightmare nursery rhyme in your ear. The unnerving beats and waves of elctronic ambience adds a menacing paranoic tone that has the effect of unsettling and relaxing you in equal measures. Melancholia, is another type of evil nursery rhyme. The hypnotic electronic melodies and sweet vocal harmonies lulling you into a false sense of serenity, while under the surface a dark gothic menace is bubbling, like the aural equivalent of a David Lynch movie. On, Time Travel, the electro pop influence shines through with burning intensity. The programmed drumbeats keeping constant steady time against swells of distorted guitars, a driving bass line and an insistent synth sample that gives things a touch of early Moby. Without the vocals, this could be almost acid house, with the vocals its something altogether more special." -Mike Bond, ukmusicsearch.co.uk (excerpt)