Indie Vinyl

Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
AGLS 010501

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is the bands 4th album, and best to date, answering any questions posed by critics of their first three attempts.  "United" (2000) was hailed as good but miss mash, and "Alphabetical" (2004) was less revered as dancy but monotonous.  Their 3rd album "It's never Been Like That" (2006) was almost a backlash to the reviews of alphabetical leaving a completely undancy, all texture try.  This time the French quartet delivers the goods.

If you haven't caught the fan-made youtube video melding brat pack dance clips with the albums first single, it's worth a watch.  The band cited it as their best video, better even than the official video they released.  From the punch of the drums on said single, the first song on the album, the urge to dance is undeniable.  The subtle guitar licks that lie back under a blanket of lite-synth texture, beg the listener to lean closer in search of great use of texture and space.  Unlike most dance rock bands that surface, Phoenix doesn't try to cram bass guitar into all the free space just to drive the dance home.  Instead, the bass is very low in the mix, but the plucky tone is rich with a timbre best delivered on LP.  The dance comes from an interesting double helix of beat and singable melody. 

The vocals are refreshingly clean and not busied with counter harmonies.  Thomas Mars  is refreshingly straight forward delivering lines like "do you remember when 21 years was old" with a melody that takes the listener down a woodland path.  A catchy zig zag without a hint of super sugary singable hooks.  Then the drums Zag when the lyrics Zig as the foundation holds firm to it's earthy roots.  Musically the sound hearkens to an 80s synth-laden dance record, but the tactile tones of real acoustic instruments shine through. 

The first two singles are by far the best two songs on the album.  Lisztomania and 1901 are why this record is a great listen on LP.  Luckily Wolfgang doesn't just drop you off on the corner after the first two tracks.  More accurately, it takes you to a house party and is the last one dancing at the end of the night. 

Love Like a Sunset is the albums dark epic.  This two-part anti-dance number seeps moody and brooding depth.  Part one is pure enigma that begs understanding, paring clean lite bits against a rattly buzz that make make one momentarily question their system. It begins to feel like a revolution number nine with rhythm instruments coming in and out sporadicly and the death knell of a dying Roland Keyboard.  Part two is the payoff.  While still countering the acoustic combo sound with a soft industrial, oft distracting, if not doplerizing moogie Keyboard rattle, the vocal comes in and all the parts form a cohesive ending to the first side. 

Side two drags you right back out onto the dance floor with "Lasso".  The bass guitar and kick drum come out punching on the second side.  the creative kit work of the drummer make this sparse key driven combo keenly interesting to listen to.  Such a happy and listenable beginning to side two.  Showing crafty change of direction in songwriting, without making it all over the place like a  prog album.  The whole record sparkles with cuts like the head bobby "Fenses", or the straight forward "Rome."  Peppered with natural hand claps as well as textural clicks and rattles, LP is the way to go with this record.  Each rich tone speaks to the craft of texture as opposed to other groups attempt  who may add layers to hide mistakes.  Overall, the album is a vehicle for a fantastic vocalist to weave in and out of a melody with all the panache and style of a john Hughes movie.