Over the 41 years they’ve been together Phish has been one of the most successful live groups ever and on each of their 16 studio albums they’ve attempted to capture their live sound on record. On the new album “Evolve” they come as close as they ever have to capturing that lightning in a bottle.
Recorded in just four days, the new album emulates a live concert with it’s pacing and dynamics. Some of the songs have been performed live on stage for months and that familiarity gives the performances a confident feel.
The gleeful and funky sound they are known for is imbued in each song as the energy swoops and swirls. They go from songs that are destined to be fleshed out in a long jam to ballads that can be used a transition point in a live show.
Phish is one of the few bands to have as much success as they have without a hit record and they probably won’t get one with this album but “Evolve” is a statement that the band is just hitting their stride and have plenty of reasons to keep going.