Almost fifteen years ago I was exposed to the music of Thieves' Kitchen, one of the finest British progressive rock groups in action today. Over the years their sound has evolved, from muscular instrumental workouts akin to the tracks at the beginning to a more lush symphonic sound as members Amy Darby and Thomas Johnson became writing partners. I had the opportunity to discuss the history of the band and all sorts of topics with founder and guitarist Phil Mercy, and am accompanying the interview with tracks that influenced him, and of course a healthy selection from the Thieves' Kitchen discography. Work is now underway on the sixth album with an expected mid-2015 release.
| We begin with tracks from two groups who were influential in the musical development of Phil Mercy |
| The Bryden 2-Step (for Amphibians) (Part Two) National Health - Of Queues and Cures - East Side Digital |
| Intergalactic Stretch Colosseum II - Electric Savage - MCA Records |
| The first track I ever heard from Thieves' Kitchen. If you can figure out all the time signatures, you seriously deserve a trophy, and yet it never ceases to be melodic. |
| Mute Thieves' Kitchen - Head - TK |
| First part of the interview with Phil Mercy. |
| The Picture Slave Thieves' Kitchen - Shibboleth - TK |
| Spiral Bound Thieves' Kitchen - Shibboleth - TK |
| The Water Road Thieves' Kitchen - The Water Road - TK |
| Second part of the interview with Phil Mercy. |
| Hypatia Thieves' Kitchen - One for sorrow, two for joy - TK |
| Of Sparks and Spires Thieves' Kitchen - One for sorrow, two for joy - TK |
Subscribe to Electronic Meditation