Phobia

(c’90-93) Ben Corbett (guitar / vocals), Rob Hughes (guitar) Erik ? (bass / vocals), & Scott D’Souza (drums).

Camberley’s Phobia supported the likes of PWEI and Senseless Things; got played by John Peel regularly on his Radio One show, as well as Steve Lamacq; with mentions in the NME, Sounds and Melody Maker. In earl/mid 1990 they laid down 6 tracks, around the same time (29 May) they appeared on stage at Pambalwood Ball, Hammersmith Palais. “Skimbo Says…” was released in July 1990.

Sleeve for Phobia’s Skimbo Say… demo cassette. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold

Their follow-up demo cassette, “FranticTeenLust…”, carrying a further 6 tracks, was released in early ’91 having recorded it in December ’90 at Vons Studios, Islington with Otteran Langrell doing the engineering. By mid/late ’91 trips up to London to perform were becoming more common such as a slot, supported by Big Boy Tomato at Pop Club, held at The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town, appearances at Brixton Clubhouse; while keeping local audience interested with venues like Camberley’s The Cube, Ash Vale’s The George, Fleet’s Fox & Hounds and Reading’s Cartoons hosting. They did well on the US college radio network according to reports and “Evermore” and “Throwing Stones” appeared on Snakebite City, under the name Mama Cain. They were back on Snakebite City two with “Bolthole” shortly after releasing the “5’11″” and “Now Wash your Hands” EPs.

The band used the Vons Studios, Islington again for “5′ 11”; with Langrell producing, with Phobia, as well as taking care of the mix with Lee Rumble. They were scheduled to support Blur in Brighton in Aug ’91, but that appears to have fallen through when “Leisure” took off following Reading ’91. Local appearances continued for Phobia with gigs at The Buzz Club, West End Centre, Aldershot in ’92 and ’93; a venue at which they’d supported The Manic Street Preachers, with The Hysterics, and The Popguns, along with Bubble Eyed Dog Boys and Blue Velvet, the year before; and a support slots with Mega City Four at the University of Surrey and Farnborough Tech.

“Thank You” from their “Skimbo Says…” demo also appeared on Farnborough Groove Vol.1. Two years later (’93), their track “The Light” appeared on Return of Farnborough Groove Vol.3; that same year “Touch the Ground” was included on the “Never Heard of ‘Em” compilation.

Corbett went on to work in sound mixing / engineering at ITV. D’Souza is a DJ, producer, label co-owner of taMe Music with Philipp Ort focused on techno-house, and artist known as ‘taMe’ making electronic music. Hughes also went into sound engineering. Langrell, who now resides in Brixham, Devon, went on to work with Sinéad O’Connor, Embrace, The Orb, and Brian Eno, and has achieved recognition since 2002 for his own psychedelic dub tracks and his collaborations with Simon Posford. He has released two albums on Twisted Records: Blumenkraft (2003), Skylon (2008) and one album on Ottsonic: Mir (2011). Ottsonic also released a digital live album in 2013.

Tracks:
Bolthole