Take rich acoustics and thoughtful lyrical themes along with neo-progressive rock, and Phantom Phunk’s self-coined ‘graveyard pop’ is the result. Guitarists Hector Alexander and Juan C Gonzalez, drummer Nicholas Emiliozzi and bassist Tom Kelly released their debut record last year and their sophomore effort has a far more home-grown feel, with the band instead trying to let the songs unfold naturally this time rather than overproducing them.

“In a way that's more representative of our true selves. As a result, the sonic feel of the album is rawer, and closer to rock ‘n’ roll than we intended, but still a very different spin on what feels familiar. The moods within the album are largely inspired by divisions within the band. Creative differences began to have an erosive effect on our morale which took our music to a dim and fractious place. At the same time, those wedges allowed for attempts at more upbeat and optimistic tracks which helped lighten the mood too,” said the four-piece in a statement.

Produced and mixed by Hector Alexander Fontanet of Harmonic Factory in their hometown of Tampa, Florida, the compositions reflect the thick and swampy surroundings of the sunshine state. There are elements of The Flaming Lips in there, but also the dedication to melody normally found in more mainstream artists such as The Killers, with Abbey Road’s Frank Arkwright in charge of mastering duties to give it a more grandiose feel.

‘My Hands’ is possibly the first true single to come out of the band, with the up-tempo stomper carrying a blend of moods, teetering between a still calmness and a teenage angst. The darker undertones in this piece juxtapose perfectly against the jubilant lead of the vocal melody. Whilst the surf-rock guitars bubble to the surface under the backdrop of dissatisfaction pulsating out of the lyrics.

Elsewhere on the record, opener ‘Back Seat Sax’ is an adrenaline-fuelled instrumental, whilst ‘People Watcher’ concludes the lyrical journey with some introspection on how we get along as people. Proceedings are then drawn to a close on ‘Arecibo’s Lullaby’s rich harmonic journey of overlays and grim undertones.

It caps off what is an interesting album made by a band that has yet to truly find its own definitive voice. Phantom Phunk are occupying a unique corner of the musical universe that only they reside in. They obviously possess a deep set of skills in the musicianship department and it will be thrilling to see how this manifests throughout their career.

Paul Hill

Website: phantomphunk.com
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