phi-psonics: expanding to one
Francisco Espregueira
Gondwana Records just unveiled Expanding to One, the latest offering from Phi-Psonics, an immersive project initiated by acoustic bassist Seth Ford-Young in East Los Angeles back in 2016. Following The Cradle (nighnote records, 2020) and Octava (Gondwana Records, 2023), this third long-player is a spiritual exploration of togetherness and connection, a theme deeply woven into its very fabric. Ford-Young meticulously sculpted fourteen tracks from a series of live recordings captured at Healing Force Of The Universe records in Pasadena, many of which were composed spontaneously with a fluid cast of musicians. This approach perfectly transmits his core ideals of community and an profound sense of inner peace, creating a truly unique and heartfelt listening experience.
Ford-Young candidly shares the deeper resonance behind Expanding to One, stating, "We live in increasingly dark times and while I intend our music to be a balm to those who connect with it, I also want the context of our musical conversations to include the outer as much as our inner worlds. The music we make doesn’t exist in a vacuum and the backdrop of injustice and tragedy in our world has to be part of our music." This powerful statement underscores that Expanding to One is not just about beautiful melodies; it's a profound artistic response to the complexities of the world around us, inviting listeners to find solace and connection within its spiritually rich soundscapes. Expanding to One is a lush and pleasurable work of art, that is available on vinyl.
Performers:
Seth Ford-Young - acoustic bass, percussion
Sylvain Carton - tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute, alto flute, bamboo flute, percussion
Randal Fisher - tenor saxophone, flute
Mitchell Yoshida - Wurlitzer 140b electric piano
Zach Tenorio - Wurlitzer 200a electric piano
Gary Fukushima - Wurlitzer 140b electric piano
Dylan Day - guitar
Dave Harrington - guitar
Rocco DeLuca - pedal steel guitar
Minta Spencer - harp
Sheila Govindarajan - Voice
Spencer Zahn - acoustic bass
Josh Collazo - drums
Jay Bellerose - drums, percussion
Mathias Künzli - percussion