"...Perhaps the most shining example to date of his utterly fearless approach to guitar."

"Phelps obviously has a foot in both the traditional and the avant garde."

"This is a brave venture that deserves your attention: it takes a guitarist in total command of his skills to achieve the impressionist effects here, and he does so joyously."

 "Western Bell will inevitably evoke comparisons with Fahey and the American primitives..."

"Perhaps if you can imagine a blend of Leo Kottke, John Fahey, Marc Ribot, and Nels Cline, you’d be in the ballpark of what Western Bell sounds like—I’d highly recommend checking it out."