PHANTOGRAM ‘Voices’ Album Now Available Digitally + UK Tour Dates

Phantogram are Sarah Barthel (vocals, keyboard) and Josh Carter (vocals, guitar). They caused an impressive stir with the release of their debut album ‘Eyelid Movies’ in 2009 and follow-up EP ‘Nightlife’ (2011). Now they announce details of their highly anticipated sophomore full-length ‘Voices’, which is released on Island Records on June 30th and will be preceded by the wonderful single ‘Fall In Love’ on June 23rd. Since forming in Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, Phantogram have evolved their sound organically and gradually. The new album is an atmospheric melding of hazy dream pop and head-knocking rhythms which makes no concession to commercialism and stays ever true to the aesthetic that has won them a wide, devoted and disparate fan base. Drafted and written both back in Saratoga Springs and current hometown Brooklyn, where the duo build their compositions together around Carter’s often sample-heavy beats, it was finished with co-producer John Hill (MIA, Santigold) in LA. The division of labour between Sarah and Josh is unique – writing and producing sometimes together and also apart, immediate proximity was not a prerequisite in such a long-standing partnership.  Released in the US in February, ‘Voices’ is still making some serious waves over there. It peaked at #5 in iTunes Album chart and #11 in the main chart as America fully embraced the New York duo. The shows at this years’ SXSW were one of the highlights for many (named Buzzfeeds standout act after their Snoop Dogg support) and Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel & David Letterman were all quick to book them for their shows. Filter magazine jumped on board early with a cover feature and Pulse magazine named their self-titled EP #1 in their 2013 round up, as well as the likes of Complex, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, USA Today and Entertainment Weekly all coming on board.
Album opener ‘Nothing But Trouble’ perfectly introduces Sarah’s beguiling soprano vocal, whilst being constantly underpinned by Josh’s gritty production. Moments later, ‘Black Out Days’ drive the listener deep into an intensifying fever dream of echo and atmospherics. Lead single ‘Fall In Love’ (a hit on US and Canadian Alternative and Pop radio since its release) stands tall with its sly hooks and contrasting dynamics – quiet snippets of synthesized strings and isolated vocal passages are layered amidst pulsating bass tones and massive orchestral stabs – it’s a track that was originally written by Josh for a rapper, but on hearing it, Sarah insisted they keep it for themselves. – good call. In good news for us and off the back of their UK release of the ‘Phantogram EP’, the band head to the UK in the coming months for a string of headline shows, which will take in The Great Escape Festival and reach London’s XOYO on the 13th May (sold out in 3 days) and The Oval Space on the 14th - their first UK shows since a mid-tour injury forced the band to cancel sold out shows at Hoxton BK and Heaven last year. The band recently completed another sold out US tour, which included Terminal 5 in New York, winning over new fans at every turn.

May UK Tour Dates:
8/9/10  The Great Escape Festival
10/5                       Ruby Lounge, Manchester
12/5                       Thekla, Bristol
13/5                       XOYO, London (SOLD OUT)
14/5                      Oval Space, London

‘Voices’ Track List:
Nothing But Trouble
Black Out Days
Fall In love
Never Going Home
The Day You Died
Howling At The Moon
Bad Dreams
Bill Murray
I Don’t Blame You
Celebrating Nothing
My Only Friend

‘Voices’ is available to download now in the UK and will be available physically on June 30th via Island Records. 

WHO SAID WHAT
“Phantogram is unlike anything we've ever heard before. They've got a Dilla-like sway to their beats with dreamy vocals and a vibrating low-end.” VIBE
   
“Packed with elegant tonal flourishes and sweeping electronic excursions… mesmerizing beats which perfectly compliment the raw emotional sentiments layered within the heart of the songs themselves.” The Line Of Best Fit

“Specialise in a mix of spooked-out folk and synth-led R&B, a smart production hybrid… gorgeous” NME

“Phantogram combines sleazy, fuzzed-out synthesisers with pretty, mournful melodies to conjure paradise where the sordid sounds sexy” Filter Magazine

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