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Formed from a reunion of two high school friends, Phantogram blossomed from a small town indie band into an electronic rock band. Now the Saratoga Springs, N.Y., duo have released its first full-length, Eyelid Movies, after releasing two EPs over the past couple years.
The instrumentals are calm and soothing, giving the album a mix between melancholy and dreamlike. Keyboardist and vocalist Sarah Barthel’s organic, haunting voice complements the electronic sound of the album. Guitarist Josh Carter’s vocals are dressed up to blend with the trippy sounds of the instrumentals.
Despite the darker tracks on the album, there are some dance-friendly songs that provide relief from the overall emotionally heavy tone. “Futuristic Casket” offers an upbeat sound, while still remaining gloomy.
Although the lyrics are somewhat nonsensical, they paint interesting imagery and leave it open for listener interpretation. The eerie and whimsical “Mouthful of Diamonds,” which contains electronic loops and a ghostly melody, is a highlight on the record.
Although there are interesting dynamics, the music tends to blend into the background. While Carter’s vocals are not as strong as Barthel’s, they add a different feel to the songs, as well as prevent the album from becoming one 45-minute long song. Eyelid Movies proves to be successful at incorporating ’60s bohemian melodies with ’90s beats while still maintaining a contemporary sound, making it a solid full-length debut.
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