Recorded and produced by Christian Pyle
Mixed by Scott Mullane and Phil Smith
Mastered by Matthew Gray Mastering
Recorded in the hinterland of Byron Bay, NSW over a period of 6 months this album features 11 tracks of beautifully recorded Americana. With a crack lineup of sessions musicians to help bring these songs to life this is the debut album from Phil Smith.
Denis Semchenko: Rave Magazine
Phil Smith’s bio reads like a classic wanderer’s story, however it’s the music and the words that do the talking; opening with the waltz-time, haunting memories-imbued title track, the album’s unhurried pace draws you in. Weeping pedal steel (courtesy of Leigh Ivin) is prominent in the mix, underscoring the meditative Blackbird and the defiant (I’ll Walk The Line) One More Time in fine tradition.
Throughout the record, Phil is helped out by names such as Bill Chambers (dobro and mandolin on Baby Doll), Women In Doc’s Roz Pappalardo (bringing her distinctive vocals to Gram Parsons/Emmylou Harris-like Where Does It Go?) and Sara Tindley (backup on Blackbird and One More For The Road), while Brisbane radio identity Natalie Van Den Hurk stars on piano.
Like any quiet, quality alt-country release, Goldmine is a worthwhile listen that is certain to improve after a few spins.
CD review (Rootstime magazine, Belgium,Feb 09)
Phil Smith gives us 11 songs on his debut album, in a style we can describe as Americana inspired country and folk songs. The lyrics give us an insight into the things he’s been through in his turbulent life, and those things he’s still suffering from. They explain stories of love and losing love, drink, drugs and their consequences, traveling and the longing to find a home.
The album was recorded in a remote house in northern New South Wales and is mainly based upon acoustic guitar, but with the subtle addition of other instruments like piano, pedal steel, organ and violin.
If Phil Smith was trying to make a record creating the same sort of melancholy vibe that has won Ryan Adams so many fans, then he has succeeded gloriously. And with Adams recently announcing his (supposed) retirement, his successor may well have arrived, in Phil Smith, looking for his own ‘Goldmine’.
CTRL ALT COUNTRY.BEb
PHIL SMITH “Goldmine” (Phil Smith / CD Baby)
(4****)
…a record that very much does justice to its name and has rewarded gold diggers with beautiful thoroughbred Americana music.The most eye catching of those songs are the ones that include the dobro and mandolin played by Bill Chambers in “Baby Doll”, or in the thickly melancholic “Ill Walk The Line (One More Time)”, or “Where Does It Go?” a waltz duet with Roz Pappalardo from Women in Docs or “One More For The Road”.
All of this is quite beautiful!”