Send "Phantogram " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Pitchfork |
 Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter, the New York-based electronic pop duo better known as Phantogram, make music refreshingly disinterested in pulling punches. With Eyelid Movies, their debut full-length from last year, the rhythm-heavy foundations and a twilight-lit mix of melody felt streamlined, yet still demonstrated vision and character. Taking cues from trip-hop and dream pop (Portishead seem to be an important reference point), they never seemed shy about being upfront with their influences. Despite cryptically nicknaming their sound "street beat," the tag made some sense-- the hard-edged urgency of said beats undercutting such lush romanticism felt perfectly suited for those long, late staggers home. So it's with the appropriately titled Nightlife EP that we find the twosome refining and tweaking some of the ideas put forth on its debut without entirely resting on its laurels, and offering a few of the band's best songs to date.In a press release, Carter explained that Nightlife "couldn't have been written anywhere other than in clubs and hotel rooms during this experience we've been having for the last year or two," describing the time Phantogram has spent promoting Eyelid Movies. The nocturnal states that often accompany life on the road have proved beneficial in the case of Nightlife, convincing the duo to push their music outside of their collective headspace and into a more social setting. Bands trying to provide an honest snapshot of a night out on the town often fall short by focusing solely on the highs of the party (those are included here too, of course), but Phantogram seem to find just as much clarity in the comedown ("It's a new day, and I got new ways of turning into stone," goes the chorus on "Turning Into Stone"). As much as you can move to Nightlife, moments of austerity and romance are still guiding lights here-- when measured correctly, Barthel and Carter are often able to craft appealing, ambidextrous tracks that feel suited for dancefloors as well as the backs of cabs. Part of this notably animated reupholstering likely has something to do with that fact that Phantogram have been performing live as a trio, with Tim Oakley handling drum duties. And while Carter is in charge of all things drum-oriented on Nightlife, the temporary change-up clearly made its mark, as Phantogram sounds more like a bonafide rock band and less like the flimsy pop act they could've dissolved into. Take single "Don't Move", a dance track that feels perfectly proportioned for starry eyes in close quarters. But look closer, and you'll find a proper heir to Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me-styled bombast, complete with horn clippings, Middle Eastern vocal samples, and marching band drum rolls. And while the Mazzy Star-esque coda that reduces the appealing bass knocks on "Turning Into Stone" into something plush and more intimate might not be necessary, it all suggests that this is a more realized pop voice willing to expand, experiment with and reinvigorate their sound....full text |
| Planetill |
| The eerie mix of moody synth, distorted guitars and heavy atmospherics on Phatogram’s debut, Eyelid Movies took music by surprise a couple of years ago. Folks that were starting to shovel dirt on Trip-Hop while heralding Post Trip-Hop got a little lost in their silly labels and had to admit Phantogram was good enough to keep the movement alive. Their sinister, heady style soundtracked plenty of dark room listenings and gave 80’s new wave lovers another sign that someone still loved them. The pair is back with their signature brand of electronic angst in tow. Their Nightlife EP revisits what made them special while adding layers to the already cushy sound. The music is still fabulously morose, tackling themes of isolation, depression and emotional disconnection. But sometimes there’s a certain comfort felt in giving in to the melancholy and Phantogram plays on that need perfectly. A finished version of “16 Years” leads the EP with a more fleshy sound than the original release. The steady galloping of the drum and distorted stair step progression of the guitar invoke the end of John Hughes film, while Sarah Barthel breaths out a story of renewed passion found after following a bright light through a dark tunnel. Don’t get excited though, it’s the closest the pair comes to legitimate happiness on the release. The album takes a definite left turn with the bouncy “Don’t Move,” a tune that could easily be about watching an addict go through withdrawal. Some irony can be found in Barthel’s direction to her subject to stay still while imploring movement with a dance track that comes complete with a hyper horn sample. The bridge here is a bit listless, but otherwise the most active track of the bunch. Josh Carter takes the vocal reigns on “Turning Into Stone” and the mood plummets thanks to a slow, thick bassline and regimented snare topped off with shadowy synth wailing and drunken digital horns. Living is lonely when everybody dies Carter sings, but a new day is here and I’ll find yet another way to make it just as somber. Watch. The huge ending includes a double time drum and a cacophony of cymbal washes, but it doesn’t elevate the song out of its black hole, which is totally the point. The build on the front end of “Make a Fist” is gorgeous. It’s a bit off center and more intricate than the other songs, but Barthel gets a bit long-winded in her prattling about the future. Minus the chorus, this is her best vocal outing. “Nightlife” is more Dream Pop than Trip Hop. The feathery soft ambiance is quickly enveloped by the percussion, but the balance of hard and soft is beautiful. A slave to the streets after the sun goes down and looking for companionship in all the wrong places finds Barthel proclaiming love is all she ever needed. Funny, because the streets are the last place you find it....full text |
| Potholesinmyblog |
| I know I am not the only one that has been craving more Phantogram since the release of Eyelid Movies back in 2010. I mean, I know it hasn’t been that long, but it is one of a few projects from that long ago that remain in my rotation. Anyway, Phantogram is prepping the release of the Nightlife EP, and since you have all been such patient fans, they have decided to give it up for stream on their Facebook page in exchange for a “Like.” If you are one of the late comers that hasn’t already “Liked” these guys on Facebook, head over to their page and do so, so you can be apart of this fabulous little project....full text |
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