phil thornton

Cassette Store Day 7th Sept 2013, so from 1983 Phil Thornton Flying

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Phil Thornton’s first solo album ! recorded in 1983. He was asked to produce an album with the same title for Prism Entertainments in the USA in 1987. so this re release is now branded as ‘Expandis’ to avoid confusion. ( It is also similar in sound to the early Expandis material, but with more of a bias towards instrumentals) this album also features the only songs so far released with Phil on vocals !!

The music here was produced using vintage analog synthesisers and effects – Moog Source, Korg MS20, MS50, SQ10, Simmons Handclap and SDS4, Elka Rhapsody, Electric mistress and Roland space echo.

Video performance was created using ‘Arkaos’

Expandis – Rise Of Psychomouse

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31st March – The Carlisle Hastings

To celebrate the launch of their new e.p. ‘Rise’ Expandis are back after a 30 year break.

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Now a two piece, the amazing ‘John Wilde’ aka ‘Psychomouse’ on vocals and multi talented ‘Phil Thornton’ on guitar, keyboards and any number of taped oddities. They take their influences from ‘Talking Heads’, ‘Kraftwerk’, ‘D.A.F.’ and ‘Yellow Magic Orchestra’. With a high energy mystic trippy throbbing sound that works its way into your brain and won’t go away, moving  you like nothing else. All eyes were transfixed on John, who was in full make up and Disney ears. Dancing around like a man possessed, with a nightmarish evil menacing grin and managing to contort his body in all manner of positions.  The stand out track for me is the more mellow ‘Prayer Mat’ from the new cd with John’s vocals at their very best. They also treated us to some covers ‘Prince’ ‘sign o the times’ , Pink Floyd’s ‘set the controls for the heart of the sun’ and Hawkwinds ‘master of the universe’.  Some old classics were played including the disturbing ‘everything stops for baby’  and ‘I don’t mind the noise’ which is always loved by the crowd. Expandis are back and stronger than ever. Don’t forget they will be playing  ‘The Big Green Cardigan Festival’ later in the year.

 Johnny Mason                                                                                     

Featured in Hastings Observer  19th April 2013