Phantogram — Voices (February 18, 2014)

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Phantogram — Voices (2014)

                 Phantogram — Voices
∏    Phantogram are an electronic rock duo from upstate New York whose music incorporates psychedelic pop vocals, J Dilla-style hip-hop beats, and shoegazing sensibility.
Founded: 2007, Saratoga Springs, NY
Styles: Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Electronic
Location: New York, NY
Album release: February 18, 2014
Recorded: in Los Angeles
Record Label: Republic Records
Duration:     43:51
Tracks:
01. Nothing But Trouble     4:06
02. Black Out Days     3:47
03. Fall in Love     3:44
04. Never Going Home     4:36
05. The Day You Died     3:51
06. Howling at the Moon     3:58
07. Bad Dreams     4:20
08. Bill Murray     3:36
09. I Don't Blame You     3:29
10. Celebrating Nothing     3:48
11. My Only Friend     4:36
Album Moods: Atmospheric Autumnal Bittersweet Cosmopolitan Delicate Dreamy Gentle Hypnotic Intimate Laid-Back/Mellow Light Meditative Melancholy Nocturnal Restrained Soothing Sophisticated Stylish
Themes: Late Night Rainy Day Reflection
∏    The follow-up to 2010's Eyelid Movies was produced by John Hill (M.I.A. and Santigold) at his Los Angeles studio.
∏    Voices was recorded in Los Angeles with co-producer John Hill (Santigold, M.I.A.) and is the first proper follow up to 2010's Eyelid Movies. According to a press release, Voices "catches the ear quickly, melding hazy dream pop, dark atmospheres, and head-knocking rhythms into a compelling, original sound. ...But do not confuse immediacy with instant gratification. The impact of Phantogram's songs intensifies over time."
∏    In an interview with LADYGUNN (http://ladygunn.com/music/phantogram-live-interview), singer Sarah Barthel says the new effort is "basically our original sound, just a lot more mature and developed. With the songwriting, we wanted to make sure the production wasn't taking over or overwhelming the songwriting. We paid close attention to that. ∏    We tried to add different elements of production that we never touched before because we had a co-producer help us. The songs sound a lot better."
REVIEW
by STEPHEN THOMPSON | February 11, 201411:00 PM
∏    Phantogram plays spiky, dense and danceable pop-rock songs with an electronic pulse: Most of its songs have an insistent grind to them, with a percussive through-line snapping and jabbing and infusing virtually every moment with jumpy urgency. But singer/keyboardist Sarah Barthel and guitarist Josh Carter still let these songs breathe in surprising ways, so that the moments of quiet that slip through — like the spare and surprising piano which pops up at the end of “Black Out Days” — have that much more impact.
∏    Even a sullen ballad like “Bill Murray” is fueled by a low, churning buzz, yet Barthel still infuses the darkest and most driving Phantogram songs with warmth, mystery and sinewy, sinister style. The Saratoga Springs, N.Y., duo has spent the last four or five years bubbling up, and it’s never sounded more current; it helps that the duo has suddenly turned up in commercials and on high-profile movie soundtracks, to the point where you couldn’t avoid Phantogram’s music if you wanted to. Voices is the sound of a band at ease and assured in its moment, as it seizes every scrap of momentum it’s created for itself. (http://www.npr.org/)
Artist Biography by Jason Birchmeier
∏    Phantogram are an electronic rock duo from upstate New York whose music incorporates psychedelic pop vocals, J Dilla-style hip-hop beats, and shoegazing sensibility. Founded in 2007 and based in Saratoga Springs, New York, the duo is comprised of longtime friends Josh Carter (guitar, vocals) and Sarah Barthel (keyboards, vocals), who originally hail from the nearby small town of Greenwich, New York. Originally known as Charlie Everywhere and associated with the local independent label Sub-Bombin Records, the duo released the eponymous Phantogram EP in March 2009 and sparked widespread interest with two songs in particular, "Mouthful of Diamonds" and "When I'm Small."
∏    Phantogram subsequently released the Running from the Cops EP in May 2009 on the international label BBE Records. The duo finally made its full-length album debut with Eyelid Movies (2010), an 11-track album featuring the four previously released EP songs "Mouthful of Diamonds," "When I'm Small," "Running from the Cops," and "Bloody Palms." The album was released internationally by BBE Records, domestically by Barsuk Records, and on vinyl by Ghostly International. The duo returned in late 2011 with the Nightlife EP, which sold enough to hit the lower reaches of the U.S. charts.
∏    They continued to tour heavily but found the time to collaborate with OutKast's Big Boi on his second album Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumours (2012) and also featured on the Flaming Lips track "Young Lust" in 2013. Their success continued in 2013 when fan favorite "When I'm Small" appeared on the MTV adaptation of the hit U.K. show Skins and they released a four-song, self-titled EP. Toward the end of the year they returned to Upstate New York and began to write and record their second full-length album, which was due in early 2014. The pair traveled to L.A. to put the finishing touches on the record, titled Voices, with producer John Hill (Santigold, M.I.A.).                                                   © Ashley Pawlak
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