Here at Truants there’s nothing we love more than a tune with sex appeal. Phil Gerus is an artist that seems not to sit and compose this sound, but it’s as if it oozes from every orifice, as easy as breathing almost. The sound is so effortless, and it’s not surprising considering his musical background. From growing up in Moscow where he studied classical piano; it could be that Phil Gerus and music are one and the same. Heavily influenced by his parents, particularly his father, as a child he would listen to jazz records such as Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, and Keith Jarrett; these jazz vibes are undeniable throughout his music, and combined with his progression into electronic performance, create a breathtaking sound.
Stream: Phil Gerus – B&W of the 60ies (Be Kind) (Sonar Kollektiv)
Over the past few years the 23-year-old has been banging out some impressive self-published music on the Internet under labels like Fuse Lab (“Milk & Honey”) and Rhymast Music (“Ordinary Things”) and is now back with his “Based On Misunderstandings” EP, on Sonar Kollektiv. The EP presents 6 tracks (the first two of which can be found on his Soundclound) which collectively encapsulate his seductive, yet funky, rhythm. Gerus says that he’s mostly “listening to jazz – to name just a few – Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Brad Mehldau and many, many others…” Plus, he loves to listen to “some old boogie funk vinyl vibes from the 80′s, 90′s era.” Inevitably, these sounds translate directly and smoothly to his own production, where those sexy swing grooves wash over you like a tidal wave (aptly the last song on the E.P is called “Surfing the Wave“) and leave you in some sort of distorted dream like haze.
Stream: Phil Gerus – Don’t Kiss Me While I’m Swimming (Sonar Kollektiv)
“B&W of the 60ies” and “Don’t Kiss Me While I’m Swimming“, with their jazz sax riff and electronic bassline, set the E.P off and immediately characterise the mood of things. “Don’t Kiss Me While I’m Swimming” samples the rolling vocal of “No One” by Alicia Keys showing just how differently producers can interpret a sound (we’re talking about “Do You“, that brilliant Skanky track), layering and complicating until what remains is a noise so disjointed from the original it becomes almost ethereal. Gerus’ use of synthesizers, looping, and heavily filtered vocals on every track on the E.P are distinctive and he’s very definitely marking his own sound in what is becoming a very hazy genre of music.
Phil Gerus – Based On Misunderstandings 05 is out now on Sonar Kollektiv.
