Phase II (3)

Phase II was co-founded in 1978 by Mark Andrews and Nicholas Tesluk in a mid-sized prairie town in northern Colorado. Formed as an acoustic duo, Mark and Nicholas performed their music in concert halls and Renaissance events in the area culminating in the October 14 airing of a conceptual radio program co-produced by Phase II and announcer/producer Bruce Clement on public radio station KUNC entitled CANDLE IN THE NIGHT. By 1979, Mark and Nicholas wanted to take their music to a new, more progressive, level and brought a drummer into the fold with Mark assuming increased multi-instrumental duties, playing several electronic and acoustic keyboards and bass. This was the year that they spent time in a studio recording their self-produced, blue vinyl, self-titled 7-inch. Though the town in which they were living was not known for any music but country and western, they had a good following and were able to distribute several copies of their 7-inch. One of the highlights of this progressive phase was the time they performed as the opening act for an unlikely pair of performers, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and The Amazing Rhythm Aces in the also unlikely location of the city’s rodeo grounds for their annual Fourth of July celebration. Though the 1500 or so members of the audience came to hear an entirely different type of music, they seemed to enjoy the unique sounds of Phase II. During the progressive phase, the band went through several drummers, performed several concerts and enjoyed a strong and growing fan base. But by 1981 the group unfortunately disbanded. In 2004, Changes, the duo formed in 1969 by Nicholas and his cousin and partner, Robert Taylor, now in their third incarnation, were to perform at the Flammenzauber 4 Festival in Heldrungen, Germany. An accompanying compilation CD was being produced for the event and Robert was asked to submit a few Changes songs and songs of other possible projects that either of them had been involved. Fortunately for Phase II, Robert included a reel tape of the 1978 acoustic radio performance. Axel Frank (Werkraum), having to work with archaic reel-to-reel tape machines, was able to clean up and boost the sound of this early tape to include two Phase II songs on the compilation. This inspired interest in the group which in turn brought the suggestion from Axel and Max Percht (Ahnstern/Steinklang) that a retrospective album be produced. So in preparation for the album, entitled AFTERGLOW, Mark, living in New York, and Nicholas in New Mexico have worked jointly (though remotely) in their respective studios to record several of the early songs which until now have never been heard outside of the concert halls and nightclubs in which they had performed. These newly recorded songs will be included along with the songs of the 7-inch, and a brand new song entitled “Just For You”. As an added feature, the KUNC radio program will also be included making this a comprehensive retrospective of their works.