West Yorkshire based solo electric guitarist Dean McPhee plays a Fender Telecaster through a valve amp and effects pedals, combining clean, chiming melodic lines with deep layers of decaying delay and cavernous echo. A self taught musician, Dean has developed a unique style of playing which draws together influences from British Folk, Dub, Kosmische, Post Rock, Mali Blues and Modal Jazz. His releases on the Blast First Petite, Folklore Tapes, Hood Faire and World in Winter labels have been critically acclaimed by The Wire Magazine, Uncut Magazine, Record Collector Magazine, MOJO Magazine, Music OMH, Dusted Magazine, Brainwashed, The Out Door, Drowned in Sound and The Quietus amongst others. Dean has supported artists/bands including Acid Mothers Temple, James Blackshaw, Emeralds, Eric Chenaux, Josh T Pearson, Lichens, The Magic Band, Sharon Van Etten, Michael Hurley, Josephine Foster, Meg Baird, Bohren and der Club of Gore and Charalambides.

In 2012, along with guitarist Daniel Land, Dean was invited by Michael Chapman to take part in a one-off live improvised performance of Michael’s experimental LP “The Resurrection and Revenge of the Clayton Peacock” (Ecstatic Peace) at The Lexington in London. In 2013 he joined Chris Hladowski and Sufi musicians Hameed Brothers Qawaal for a collaborative performance in Bradford and also played live with video feedback artist Barry Hale, both as part of Recon Festival. In 2013 Dean toured the UK supporting Thurston Moore and Michael Chapman and in 2016 he was special guest on Wolf People’s UK tour, opening for them and playing with them on their closing track “Kingfisher”. The same year, along with artists such as David Grubbs, FM Einhart, Richard Skelton and Jad Fair, Dean was invited to contribute to the soundtrack of artist Graham Dolphin’s retrospective show at the National Gallery of Contemporary art. He recorded a 30 minute improvised piece “Ten Stars” in response to a series of abstract instructions from the artist.

Dean’s third full length album “Four Stones” was released in 2018. “Four Stones” brings together remastered versions of three tracks that were only previously available on (now sold out) limited edition tape compilations on the “unique and essential” (Dusted Magazine) Folklore Tapes label along with two new pieces “Danse Macabre” and the epic 14 minute “Four Stones” which find Dean using a new kick drum pedal to add a percussive undercurrent to his music. The Folklore Tapes tracks “The Blood of St. John” (from Calendar Customs Vol IV: Crown of Light), “Rule of Threes” (from Lancashire Folklore Tapes Vol 1: Pendle, 1612) and “The Devil’s Knell” (from Folklore Tapes Calendar Customs Vol III: Midwinter Rites and Revelries).