Album Review by Naveed Ahmad 

Phantogram, a duo consisting of New York natives Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter, is a band experimenting with different sounds and influences, and their new EP, Nightlife, illustrates a solid growth from their 2009 debut album, Eyelid Movies.  

Phantogram - Nightlife EP Stream | Purchase on iTunes

While Eyelid Movies had a lot of its songs lead off with a strong beat, the beat would often fade into the background, taking a backseat to the lyrics. However, on much of Nightlife, the duo opts for a low-fi texture to the words, creating more of a dreamy feel, and hence, allowing the music to take over.

It’s a smart move. Barthel and Carter’s repertoire of equipment runs from synthesizers to samplers to bass guitar, creating a sound cognizant of catchy pop, but with more of an edge. Their lead single, “Don’t Move,” released in early October of this year, is a smash. It has a fun, upbeat bounce, despite the darker lyrics. “All you do is/shake shake shake,” coos Barthel on the hook. Innocent enough, until she sings out “virgin fires/calling out the throat/of a body rising through the floor,” later on in the song.

Since early 2010, Phantogram has been relentlessly touring the country, with stops at SXSW and shows with The xx along the way. Barthel has gone on record saying that Nightlife came about from a lot of “experience and emotion” of touring. “We wanted it to be heavy. We wanted it to be dark. We wanted it [Nightlife] to have a different dynamic element that Eyelid Movies may possibly lack,” she mused in an interview.
Despite the intention, Nightlife can’t seem to escape the familiarity of Phantogram’s old work. Familiarity is not always a bad thing, but with a band as experimental as Phantogram, they’re at their best when they’re pushing boundaries. The opening track, “16 Years,” seems to be an extension right where Eyelid Movies left off. That’s a bit of a problem when the EP is only six tracks long.

That doesn’t take away from the strides Phantogram does make. Buried in the heart of the album is a creepy track by the name of “Make A Fist.” “You don’t have to do this/you don’t have to do this/now,” pleads Barthel, as layers of beats come in and out of the song, creating a sensation of uncomfort that you can’t quite shake.

Carter, who handles most of the production, has listed underground hip-hop legends J Dilla and 9th Wonder as his influences. Barthel says her only real female influence is Beyonce. This is a band that is tapped into hip-hop culture, and if they really want to go dark, they should look at The Weeknd and Drake, two hip-hop acts that are enjoying immense success by exploring the most uncomfortable parts of the human psyche, lyrically and sonically. With all their musical skill sets and influences, Phantogram is a band that could benefit from a similar undertaking. 

In its strongest points, Nightlife has a sound that is rich, dark, and leaves you wanting more. However, it also showcases a duo that has the chops to evolve even further.

Essential Tracks:
Don’t Move
Make A Fist
Turning Into Stone