The Californer - E.G. Phillips' "The Flesh of Birds" is a Sensual Feast

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The San Francisco songwriter's latest chamber folk offering is an evocative journey

SAN FRANCISCO - Californer -- The latest track from singer-songwriter E.G. Phillips offers a cinematic experience enriched by a chamber ensemble of piano, upright bass, and cello. It's the second release from his collaboration with two-time Grammy-winner Nahuel Bronzini and musical polymath Felipe Ubeda (Cigarbox Man) acting as co-arrangers and co-producers.

Inspired by a quip from 30 Rock's Tracy Jordan ("Sorry it took me so long to answer, I was just thinking about how weird it is that we eat birds") and layered with rich visuals, the song is a whimsical yet poignant meditation on love and our perception of the world. Phillips describes the piece as "a romance in miniature, in reverse."

Lyrically, "The Flesh of Birds" showcases Phillips' knack for blending vivid imagery with introspection. The opening verse sets a reflective tone:

Watch a movie as it plays in reverse
It all makes its own sort of sense
Broken shards spring up to form a wine glass
Dig a man up from the earth

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Then he comes to life.

As the song unfolds, it navigates themes of impermanence, communication, and the delicate balance between wonder and disillusionment. The chorus ties these ideas together:

On a planet of feast and famine,
Its course so perverse
We subsist on a diet
Of half empty words
The milk of human kindness
And the flesh of birds.

The imagery crescendos in the final verse, where Phillips contrasts the admiration for the majestic flight of a red-tailed hawk with the primal fear its shadow evokes.

Thriving at the intersection of classical and contemporary styles, the track is part of a broader exploration of Phillips' songwriting ethos developed in collaboration with Bronzini and Ubeda and reflects a shared vision of crafting music that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.

Praise for "The Albatross Song (Mellow Like)"
The previous single from "Tricks of the Light" has garnered much critical praise.

"a mercurial blend of the classical and the rootsy, the graceful and the groovy... soaked in ethereal cosmic folk harmonies and ebb and flows between these musical extremes"

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— Dave Franklin, The Big Takeover

"a laidback and contemplative soundscape that instantly intrigues... highly immersive and atmospheric"
— Jeremy Bregman, Mesmerized

About E.G. Phillips E.G. Phillips is a San Francisco-based singer-songwriter known for his literary lyricism and a sound that blends Americana with a touch of jazz. His influences range from Bob Dylan to Duke Ellington. His storytelling music invites listeners into a world rich with imagery, humor, and introspection.

Release Information "The Flesh of Birds" is available on all major streaming platforms, including bandcamp and Spotify. For more information, visit E.G. Phillips' website or follow him on social media.