All you night owls out there: are you looking for the ideal album to provide the soundtrack for your hip late-night soirees, your explorations of urban landscapes, or even you solitary ruminations about life and romance? If so, then Voices has a collection of tunes ideally suited to your needs. Phantogram takes the nocturnal stylings and trip-hoppy goodness of the band's 2009 release Eyelid Movies (and subsequent EPs), tightens the songwriting focus, and adds a sheen of cinematic style to deliver a stunning set of remarkably catchy songs.
The album starts out strong with "Nothing But Trouble," which establishes the band's M.O.: propulsive, hypnotic beats; densely layered synths; Sarah Barthel's captivating vocals; undeniably bold hooks. The opening track's slightly foreboding tone is matched by the excellent follow-up, "Black Out Days," whose soaring vocal hooks knock the ball out of the park. The mood then lightens on the album's third track, "Fall in Love," which incorporates elements of 70's soul pop to delightful effect.
After such a strong start, one could be excused for wondering if the band has the legs to maintain such a staggering pace until the finish line. I'm happy to report that the remaining tracks largely match, and in many cases exceed, the standard set by the opening trio, whether it's the guitar-driven "The Day You Died," the rhythmically entrancing and seductively enticing "Bad Dreams," the rapturous keyboard hooks of "Celebrating Nothing," or the languid beauty of "Bill Murray" (which is an ideal candidate for a future Melancholy Monday post).
It's still early in the year; so it's premature to declare that Phantogram's latest will end up as one of three or four best albums of the 2014. But certainly it will be a contender, and there's no question that Voices will remain a fixture in my late-night rotation for many moons to come.
"Fall in Love"
"Bill Murray"
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