Phantogram’s second album since their inception in 2007 is one of futuristic electronic drum patterns, heavy bass, guitar reverb, and emotionally charged vocals. The New York duo have come up with an extremely satisfying aural combination that is only outdone by the dark story that develops throughout Voices. Indeed, it is this lyrical narrative that makes the record so intriguing.
Sarah Barthel sings of how an unstable woman hears voices “all the time, they are not mine” underneath the lead vocals on second track ‘Black Out Days’. This admission could easily be missed, but it bears great significance. After a brief encounter, she becomes obsessed with Josh Carter’s character despite his flailing interest.
Barthel tries to move on, but our protagonist struggles with the ongoing rejection at the back end of the album. The dark music reflects her ominous thoughts, a standout feature of Voices.
The album culminates in the singer waiting for her “only friend” outside his house. It is a tragic side to the woman who started the record with such a solid grip on reality: “Do you ever have the feeling you’ve been dreaming? This is life.”
Voices deals with a woman’s catastrophic reaction to a devastating heartbreak. What intensifies the story is that she barely knew the man who upset her. Is she mentally fragile or was she genuinely misguided? Such ambiguity mixed with the electronic street beats makes this collection a dense and thought-provoking listen.
Listen to ‘Fall In Love’ from Voices here:
Love Electronic?
Get the latest Electronic news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more
