Photos of Phantogram at SXSW 2016 in Austin, TX
Photos of Phantogram at 2015 Float Fest in San Marcos, TX
Photos of Phantogram at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY on March 30th, 2015
Photos of Phantogram at 2015 Air + Style in Los Angeles, CA
Photos of Phantogram at 2014 Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, TX
Photos of Phantogram at 2014 Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL
Photos of Phantogram at 2014 Buku Music + Art Project in New Orleans, LA
Photos of Phantogram at 2014 Maverick Music Festival in San Antonio, TX
Photos of Phantogram at SXSW 2014
Photos of Phantogram at 2012 LouFest in St. Louis, MO
Photos of Phantogram at 2012 Governors Ball in New York, NY
Photos of Phantogram at Coca-Cola Center in Oklahoma City, OK on December 31st, 2011
Photos of Phantogram at 2011 Pacific Festival in Silverado, CA
At first, Saratoga Spring’s Phantogram didn’t turn heads with debut full-length Eyelid Movies (QRO review), but the ethereal live show from Josh Carter and the beautiful Sara Barthel (QRO photos) did, and now, five years after Eyelid, they find themselves on a major label for their follow-up. While more accomplished than their debut, Voices still isn’t revelatory.
The hallmark of Voices is a mix of haunting and incisive, even when airy (“Black Out Days”) or when Carter takes the mike (“Never Going Home” and “Bill Murray”). While it struggles to stand out from all of the other ethereal electronica out there these days, Voices is still a record that works, such as high & pretty – but not too high or too pretty – “The Day You Died”, or the glow, yet loss, of “Celebrate Nothing”.
Like Eyelid Movies, Voices isn’t going to change the way you look at haunting electronica, as it’s still halfway to dance (see “Howling At the Moon”). But it will undoubtedly bring a great live show.
