It’s been a long break between drinks for French alternative rockers, Phoenix . Their 2009 album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is up there with my all time favourite LP’s. It’s unique blend of quirky rock riffs, muted bass lines and melodic pop has an effortlessly cool feel that makes it so damn easy to listen to in any situation.
So the news of a new album release in April 2013 arrived with an equal sense of anticipation and concern for me. Could the band, that I’ve become so fond of, build on their already impressive back catalogue – or would they go the way of MGMT or Kings Of Leon by losing track of the things that their existing fans love about their music? To exacerbate this fear, the band took the webs to describe the new album as a departure from their previous work and a more experimental and minimalist sound as “compared to the catchy pop hooks of their previous releases” …fuck!
Well then…Today is the day that we are treated to some new sounds via ‘ Entertainment’ , the first song from their forthcoming seventh album Bankrupt !. It’s the first quenching drop that we’ve been treated to in nearly four years!
Opening with a heavy oriental synth progression (cited by Pitchfork as the theme grown in ’) ‘Entertainment’ has all the signature Phoenix trademarks and more. Any concern of Pheonix transforming in to some minimilist/experimental group is either dispelled or delayed through this layered festival anthem.
The song takes many bends and turns, raising from progressive verses to manic instrumentals. The scaling tones of a choir work nicely alongside huge drum patterns and the gliding synth melody that steers the track all the way to a fairly
abrupt
end.
It’s a very promising suggestion of what’s to come from the new collection of tunes (track list below).
Phoenix will play various major music festivals across the world in support of the new album. Announced dates include headlining spots at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Primavera Sound . I don’t want to stir the pot – but it seems Splendour In The Grass would be a pretty good fit for the group to tour the album down under…. stay posted.
Bankrupt! tracklist:
- Entertainment
- The Real Thing
- SOS in Bel Air
- Trying to Be Cool
- Bankrupt!
- Drakkar Noir
- Chloroform
- Don’t
- Bourgeois
- Oblique City
For old times sake, here’s
Lisztomania:
WORDS BY TOM PITNEY
WORDS BY Tom Pitney
Comments
.