Ears Wide Open: Water Slice

Kevin Bronson on June 14th, 2018

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Water Slice (Photo by Michael Tyrone Delaney)

Water Slice is the vehicle for the music of Patrick Phillips, a Portland expatriate who spent two years playing bass in James Supercave and released singles in 2016 and ’17 before setting off on his own in earnest. The songs on Water Slice’s debut EP meld Phillips’ many musical fancies — post-punk, power-pop, psych-pop and even reggae — into a delectable but mellow ’80s-indebted sound topped by his rich vocals, which on the new single “Please Remember” are at times a bit reminiscent of Tears for Fears or Joe Jackson.

The song itself is kind of Phillips’ “note to self.” He explains: “The song’s about facing the fact that you’re not always where you thought you would be in life. But instead of freaking out about it, it’s important to remember what and who grounds you, to keep moving forward or dig deep and turn everything around.”

The six-song EP was recorded mostly in the Frogtown studio of Chris Lynch and Adam Rasmussen of Gardens & Villa — except “Please Remember,” which was made with Gus Seyffert, who currently plays in Roger Waters’ band and has produced records for the likes of Dr. Dog, Michelle Branch, Bedouine, James Supercave and the Fuzzy Crystals, among others. “Water Slice” is out Aug. 10.

||| Stream: “Please Remember” and “This Way”