
REVIEWED
Marking a triumphant chapter in electronic innovation, Phidippus‘ debut album, “Prazosin,” released on January 1, 2025, is a vibrant mix of Breakbeat, IDM, and Electronic Pop. Helmed by Eric Salazar, the mastermind behind Phidippus, this groundbreaking album was crafted within the intimate confines of a two-bedroom apartment in Arvada, CO. Featuring emotive vocal contributions from Jeff Riteman, Alice Indiana, and Salazar himself, Phidippus transforms personal adversity into a sonic tapestry that resonates with raw authenticity.
Salazar’s quest to transcend electronic boundaries roots back to his early musical encounters with Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk, subtly reflected in the ethereal layers of “Prazosin.” Inspired by his recovery from severe car crash injuries, each track serves not only as a testament to resilience but also as an exploration of emotion through electric soundscapes. Eric’s description of his music as an “electric voltage charged anthem” perfectly encapsulates this album’s spirited intensity, making “Prazosin” an essential listen for fans of genre-defying music journeys.
songplode.art
Have you ever felt like you were living under a dark cloud, where everything that could go wrong seemed to do just that? We’ve all experienced those moments when life throws us a curveball, and it feels like we’re caught in an endless string of misfortunes. It’s as if we’ve been “jinxed” – that peculiar state where bad luck seems to follow us around like a persistent shadow. These experiences, though challenging, often become the crucible for personal growth and artistic expression.
Introducing “Jinx,” the latest album from electronic music producer Phidippus. This 10-track opus, released on June 30, 2024, is a sonic journey through the artist’s tumultuous year, transforming personal tribulations into a captivating musical narrative. Clocking in at 55 minutes and 54 seconds, “Jinx” offers listeners a deep dive into Phidippus‘ world, where adversity and resilience intertwine to create a compelling auditory experience.
The album kicks off with “Welcome to My World,” a collaboration with John Lost that sets the tone for the rollercoaster to come. As we progress through the tracklist, we encounter standout pieces like “Move,” in collaboration with The Dragon Named Fenn, and “Shadows,” a track that showcases Phidippus‘ skill in crafting atmospheric soundscapes. The album’s centerpiece, “Anathemaamehtana,” is a testament to the artist’s willingness to push boundaries and experiment with unconventional structures. As we approach the finale, “So Long Clarkson” provides a fitting closure to this intense musical odyssey.
https://open.spotify.com/album/3tRrb0TFYUCgTWGAays7Sc
Behind the beats and synths of “Jinx” is Eric Salazar, the mastermind of Phidippus. Salazar’s journey in electronic music began in the 1980s when he first encountered sampled music on an Amiga 1000. Since then, he’s been on a relentless quest to push the boundaries of electronic music, unafraid to throw almost anything into what he calls the “sonic quagmire.” Phidippus‘ music defies easy categorization, embodying a punk ethic that challenges the often strict boundaries of electronic genres. This latest album is a testament to Salazar’s resilience, both as an artist and as a human being, transforming a year of personal hardships into a powerful musical statement.
If you’re a fan of electronic music that dares to be different, “Jinx” by Phidippus is an album you won’t want to miss. It’s available now on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. Take a journey through Phidippus‘ world of atmospheric beats, collaborative tracks, and raw emotion. Whether you’re drawn to the hypnotic rhythms of “Synchronicity” or the introspective tones of “Remember,” there’s something in “Jinx” for every electronic music enthusiast. Don’t just take our word for it – give it a listen and experience the captivating soundscapes of Phidippus for yourself. Who knows? This album might just be the antidote to any “jinx” you might be experiencing in your own life.
Musiktimes.com
Phidippus signals his wide stock of variations in the dramatic dubstep sound with the brand new single ‘Metallik “Compressor” (Phidippus Remix)’. His sensible marks on creative space in the song make him the forefront of modern music. The track begins with exposing distinct cinematic styles that gradually grow into a colossal realm of techno beats. The fragments of the audio are detailed with laces of infectiously rhythmic escapism. I am looking forward to hearing about more astonishing production in near future. His innate specialty to blend music with emotions has raised his position in the modern music industry. Get more funk and innovative electro beats on SoundCloud, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Dailymusicroll.com
Colorado Music Producer Phidippus Is Creating An Aura Of Electronic Music With The Album ‘170.2’. The musical formatting of electronic music streams in upcoming Colorado music producer Phidippus’ new album, ‘170.2’ is a captivating creative indulgence.
Musical transience and creative virtues in the areas of electronica is providing some of the best variants and diversities of sound and rhythms. Music producer Phidippus is creating an ambient verse of musical traction that is captivating and allowing the collective scope of electronic music to redefine its future goals. He is remastering his music of the past seven years into a beautifully amalgamated arena of electronic undulations in his newly released album ‘170.2’, a follow-up of his previous ‘170.1’ album. He is paving the way for a new sound and musical expressions and creating an indulging space of new prospects and perspectives.
The Colorado music producer is rapidly garnering engagement with his album, ‘170.2’ consisting of ten intense songs which a creative goal of utilizing the best sound modulations there is. Hailing from Denver, this artist is currently associated with the production house Jumping Spider Records that is allowing him to showcase his artistic methods. His tryst with music started from a very young age that paved the way for a bigger and more curious scope of musical understanding. His rhythmic insertions and sound dynamics are unique and new and are setting the benchmark for the future of electronica and EDM.
Artist Phidippus’ production skills have been celebrated on radio, television, and in clubs that are helping him find a renewed identity of his own. Electronic music has always been steady in making new trends and musical prospects and this album is integral in establishing a beautiful connection between music and cultural evolution. Some of the songs from the album that deserves special mention include ‘Irrational’, ‘Paranormal’, ‘Radioactive’, and ‘Thursday’ that present the artist’s endless creative arc. From his use of modern-day musical elements to deconstructing them as per his interpretations, his legacy is here to stay and inspire many in the years to come.
Issuewire.com
Despite the fact that he has launched his own record label (Jumping Spider Records), Eric Salazar, better known as Phidippus, still cites one of his crowning achievements as being the score composer for the less than critically acclaimed video game “Belle’s Beauty Boutique.” With a lighthearted take on his presence in the electronica scene despite a broad range in his works both past and present, it is difficult not to find Phidippus both charming and inspirational as an artist. His past projects have focused largely on remixes and adding vocals to his tracks, even though his 2013 song “When I Was Emptyhead” takes a different approach as a vocal-less track that is solely an original mix. While it is immensely difficult to sum up such an eclectic and longstanding artist, I aim to pinpoint the facets of his work that have stood out the most for me.
I feel as though “Warm Cola” is a good place to start when discussing Phidippus’ work, as it is a track that carries many of the positive attributes that I’ve come to associate with the artist. The track has so much going for it, with a complex melody played at an unbelievably blistering pace. There are so many inconsistencies in the beats of most of Phidippus’ tracks that it is at times difficult to even slap on a time signature to some of his work. “Party Tonight” is a track that will drive you crazy if you try analytically breaking it apart; the vast amounts of melodic shifts make it so that attempting to define a specific time signature for each individual section is nigh impossible. The diverse nature of Phidippus’ musical arsenal makes it tough to mark his own unique style as anything other than “experimental,” though there are some small patterns that carry over to each new era of his work.
Most of Phidippus’ tracks are on the lighter side of the synth spectrum, though he doesn’t shy away from venturing off into deeper sounds. Take “I Just Want To Drive” for example: there are moments of heavy bass and guitar that combine with the electronic aspects of the music to the successful effect of a Blue Stahli or a Celldweller. On the subject of vocals, Phidippus’ performance falls under the category of what I would call “an acquired taste,” with a spoken word droning being the complementary element to the otherwise electric, energetic vibe that emanates from most of the tracks. The lyrical content in Phidippus’ music is just as avant-garde as his instrumentation, with some genuinely thought provoking tracks that forced me to rethink the way I analysed their lyrics after multiple listens. “I’ll Take God” is a track that I could write an entire essay on given the complex themes of accepting certain aspects of religion while rejecting others. In it, he writes, “I’ll take God without his preachers.”
Enter the Wacky World of Phidippus
by Adrian Bambace
I’ve complained in the past about modern music needing a jolt of innovation without coming off as pretentious. Phidippus seems to epitomize the desire to make great music while refusing to keep to one specific formula, making his trajectory as an artist fascinating to watch. I find Phidippus to be an immensely underappreciated musician who just needs one big hit to make his name reverberate throughout the densely packed world of electronica, and I hope that that day comes sooner rather than later.
24ourmusicreview.com
Produced way back in 1998, "IvoryCoast" still sounds like a breath of fresh air. Combining an 'old school' style break with lush synth melodies, this one breaks the rigid mold of d'n'b. Catchy analog riff throughout will have all the trainspotters at your decks. The flipside offers up Red Math's "Angry 90's Edit". Using all the old breaks, the Red one lays down a classic anthem that will warp you back in time to jungle's proto beginnings. Rareform follows suit with the "Get Me Out of Hear Mix" which also dips way down into the bag of old jungle tricks. If you like that '93 sound, you will eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Knowledge Magazine
This last crop of CDs/Tapes I received to analyze and CRUSH THE HOPES OF ALL THESE ARTISTS IN MY PLANS FOR WORLD DOMINATI..err, you know..anyway, it is with GREAT pleasure that I receive what I've recently got. I'd like to start out with quite possibly the cream of the crop, Emptyhead's self-titled album. Yoinks. This is incredible. To define this CD in a genre would be an injustice. To say the very least, I'm VERY pleased with this. Elements from all types of style are encompassed in this. This is a most honest statment..no 'standard fare' of genre. What really amazes me is the purely compositional elements of this disc. Tracks ranging from piano oriented arrangements to a DJ remix done with nothing but turntables really spice up the pallette. Each track is incredibly well produced (and all on a CD-R, to boot!) and different. Yah, that's kind of cliche, but the pure talent in this release and in every song engulfs the listener with pure aural ecstacy. Seriously. Beautiful soundscapes and almost orchestral arrangements are found all through this disc; even a drum & bass track adds to the eclectic nature of this album To truly define this, I'll share a sort of 'revelation' I had while driving to a friend's house & listening to this: after reading a recent article in "Keyboard" magazine, it struck me that this album fit what the editorial was about: the music actually tells a story. I mean, each song is full. There's suspense, resolution, denoument, everything. This is truly a..well, I could say timeless release. I really really hope more people hear OF Emptyhead and give this a listen. If it's not clear by now, I'm floored by the pure musical moods of this album. Indeed!
Last Sigh
eric salazar, aka emptyhead, has the right idea... thank you's go out to emagic, the makers of the logic sequencing software, and ensoniq, synth and sampler makers extraordinaire. if you can't thank the people who make you the gear to create with, then who? the title track on penitence is a minimalist, electronic-to-the-core affair. only two melodies battle for your attention throughout the song, and enough happens to them and the sounds that create them, to keep you occupied. simple but effective seems to be the motto here. the second track is more upbeat and also longer, making for some more changes in instruments, and it's danceable too. track three reminded me of jean michel jarre, in that classic synthesizer style, with more emphasis on the melody than the sounds. this is interesting, because it takes emptyhead down the unenviable path of competing against the synth masters, like jarre and vangelis, and although no-one could emerge from that fight unscathed, mr. salazar holds his own admirably. the last track is a reworking of penitence, with the addition of a beat and it really brings the song to life. i would choose this over the original. a different route is taken with voluptuous, the backbone is the opening track, deodato, formed by a number of jazz-oriented and rap music samples. he doesn't just take the samples to incorporate into his own song though, he actually uses them to create a dancy jazz tune. the second track is more powerful, with a strong beat and a fuller overall sound. the same is true for the other two tracks on this ep, which i found more enjoyable than penitence. the songs are well laid out, they have interesting tempo and mood changes. cool.
Raw42
“I hope you like them,” says Eric Salazar of his collected works. “I hope you listen to them while you are having sexual intercourse.” There must be something in the water this month. Anyway, nothing personal, Eric, but I work in an open-plan office, and my desk is right by the window. Even in his music, it’s not always easy to tell when Eric is being serious. He talks of having run a dance label, but his first love seems to be the more filmic, instrumental synthfests of Jarre and Vangelis. The result is a jarring collision of styles, whereby crunchy drum programming and aggressive bass lines sit side-by-side with cheesy flute sounds and warm string pads. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Perhaps you need to be having sexual intercourse to appreciate it properly.
Soundonsound.com
The contemporary arena of electronic dance music or EDM has found a new creative producer with Phidippus. He is presenting captivating ripples of electronic sound dynamics and rhythmic trance that is redefining music with the virtues of new styles and musical prospects. The artists recently came out with the album, ‘170.2’, a follow up of the previous record, ‘170.1’ that is beautifully describing the newfound legacies of the electronic music scene. Being an active part of EDM for a long time, he has developed the sense and understanding of various musical components that collectively reflect in all the ten songs of the album. His songs ‘Irrational’, ‘Paranormal’, ‘Radioactive’, and ‘Thursday’ all have the intensity of rhythmic greatness that carries the audience to the highest degrees of creative reliability. Hailing from Denver, Colorado music producer Phidippus is dynamic in his personal growth as an artist as he has accumulated his experiences of the past 7 years into the making and remastering of the album ‘170.2’. His musical style is universal and culturally influenced which makes his songs acceptable to a large stream of audiences. He is already being hailed highly in the local EDM scene as he looks forward to spreading his creative arc across the globe. His interpretations and musical deconstructions are diverse that make him stand apart in creative eccentricity from his contemporaries. Follow his work on Soundcloud, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram to know more about his music and thematic derivations.
Yourdigitalwall.com