Phil Campbell is something of an enigma. Born in Scotland and into a family of lay preachers (his father) and hymn writers (his grandparents), Campbell soaked up the religious ether of this existence and then ignored it as best he could. He initially made something of a splash in the mid-1990s when he stood out amongst the more itinerant Glaswegian flotsam and jetsam and signed a development deal with WEA aged just 18. He followed this by signing to EMI and recording his debut album ‘Fresh New Life’ before he had turned 20. Campbell then fell out with EMI, blew his advance on drugs and friends (in that order) and then fell on his feet quick enough to get a cute scar on his left cheek and a bunch of songs that tell the whole sordid tale. JOY is that bunch of songs, a beautiful collection that lives up to the promise Campbell showed us all those years ago. Campbell’s own uneasy listening includes Tom Waits, Elliot Smith, Neil Young, anything from Exile On Main Street and Sticky Fingers (you should hear Campbell’s piano version of Gimme Shelter - it’s enough to make you wonder whether you’re allowed to witness something this brittle), and anything by Bob Dylan. Campbell, of course, is now very much his own man and his signing to Safehouse/Charisma through EMI delightfully brings our tale full circle.
The things people say:
“Phil Campbell is poised for success. At the beginning of the year, we tipped him as one to keep your eyes on and his new album Joy lives up to our hype. It is all set to cosy up against the works of David Gray, Damien Rice and Ray Lamontagne on the shelves of those who have fallen in love with the recent return to proper songs, sung properly, by proper songwriters.†SUNDAY TIMES
“The voice of a fallen angel who's smoked too many fags.†- WORD
“Phil Campbell writes music with a timeless, classic quality that belies his youthful years†– MUSIC WEEK