Phantogram’s new self-titled EP is so majestic and mesmerizing that I already have high expectations from their second studio album Voices (2013).
The EP that was released on September 30, comes as the prelude or transition to the album that should be out soon. It is everything I hoped it would be. It’s raw, honest, dark, vulnerable, electric and haunting. Once again, Phantogram has sticked to their signature sound, but they have an incredible ability to make it sound so fresh and avoid any repetition or similarity to what we have heard before.
Phantogram features four tracks: “Black Out Days,” “Never Going Home,” “The Day You Died” and “Celebrating Nothing.”
“Black Out Days” is a hazy and beat-driven track, swarming with breathy, dreamy and haunting vocals. As Sarah Barthel sings, “thousand voices howling in my head,” you are being swamped with a choir of celestial voices. It’s auditory overwhelming and absolutely magnificent.
“Never Going Home” features a dominant and clean guitar sound overlapping with nostalgic and emotional male vocals. Then it transitions into this grandiose, lavish and foggy electronic sound.
“The Day You Died” is dominated by a pulsating beat and floating guitar sound and sonically enriched by sensitive, soft and airy vocals.
And finally, “Celebrating Nothing” is a stunning nebulous track with heavy beat accompanied by resonating, delicate and breathy vocals. “I hide behind my eyes and lies and broken mirrors/and every day I say this time around my vision's getting clearer.” Still her vision remains just as hazy as this song. It’s brilliant.
Listen to “Black Out Days” and “Celebrating Nothing” stream!
Image: Amazon