Phoenix Remixed: Part I
Posted by BrokenSilence | Filed under Def Starr, Phoenix
Since Phoenix has shot to stardom with the release of their fourth album, ‘Wolfgang…’, (about time if you ask me), everyone is remixing them (which is what lead singer of Cut Copy, Dan Whitford, wanted to see when I interviewed him, many months before the album’s release. In any case, I digress). There are a lot of Phoenix remixes out there that I want to share, which I should probably do in one post, but I’ll just do it in a series. The first one I want to post is the Def Starr mix of ‘Fences’. I love this one. It’s the current ‘replay’ track on my iTunes. Def Starr removes the rock aesthetic from the original, making it ethereal by inserting soft electronic/synth melodies and heavy as a heart drum machines.
Phoenix - Fences (Def Starr Remix)
Tags: Cut Copy, Dan Whitford, Fences, Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Lisztomania
Posted by BrokenSilence | Filed under Alex Metric, Phoenix
The band that’s getting all the love from around the world right now is Phoenix. Our favorite French boys are back with a new album after three years living the quiet life. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix; their fourth LP and what an amazing LP it is. The group has already perfected the art of crafting lovelorn pop songs and this album only further demonstrates their ability to polish their art. Around lead singer Thomas Mars’ romantically twined lyrics, the band creates a sound that perfectly meshes guitar rock and electronic dance, though with the last two albums they’ve leaned more on the former when compared to their earlier albums. Yet in each track Mars maintains his ability to sing with a youthful croon, which tugs at your heartstrings and runs nostalgia through your veins.
Lisztomania: Franz Liszt was a Hungarian virtuoso pianist in the 1800s. Liszt became famous throughout Europe for his skill as a performer. He is said to have been the most technically advanced and perhaps greatest pianist of all time. The term ‘Lisztomania’ was created by the German romantic literary figure Heinrich Heine to describe the public’s response to Liszt’s piano performances. There were allegedly screaming women at these shows. He was the first true teen idol.
Phoenix’s track starts off with a quick bouncy piano piece that’s classical in style. Liszt inspired perhaps? The song picks up fast and becomes a sweet bopping jaunt filled with guitar staccatos, electric twangs, splashing percussion and Mars’ characteristically yearning croon speaking his tragically inspired lyrics ‘Darling, I’m down and lonely/When with the fortunate only/I’ve been looking for something else’ This song makes you dance in your bedroom.
Alex Metric does a great remix of the track. His mix brings a dark urgency to the song. It’s nighttime sleek; driving in a convertible on wet roads with your sunglasses on even though it’s 1 a.m. Alex Metric takes this song from an indie rock track to a deeply disco inspired dance kicker. The choppy, buzzing bass riff that underlies the song really gets your feet tapping. It comes with a little sleaze and really accentuates Mars’ lyrics, often reiterating ‘These days I gotta be someone else’, that fits in ever so well with the tune. The end tapers off nicely with only the staccato guitar riff playing out accompanied by the thumping bass beat, which eventually fades to a whisper.
Phoenix - Lisztomania (Alex Metric Remix)
And lastly I have to discuss the music video for this song. Phoenix did an official video for Lisztomania, which was kind of boring to be honest. However, some enterprising individual decided to make his own music video to the track that utilizes footage from 80s Brat Pack movies; Footloose, Pretty In Pink, Mannequin, and Breakfast Club. It’s amazing.
Tags: Brat Pack, Breakfast Club, Footloose, Franz Liszt, Heinrich Hein, Mannequin, Music Video, Pretty In Pink, Remix
Phoenix - Girlfriend
Posted by BrokenSilence | Filed under Phoenix
Another track off of Phoenix’s upcoming fourth album, ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix’ being released next month. ‘Girlfriend’ follows on the same fuzzy synth rock of first single ‘1901′. It’s just a little slower, sweeter and thoughtful. Nice to see cohesiveness in the album thus far. I think this is going to be a great one. I like the softer sound to ‘Girlfriend’. I can see the video for it being Thomas Mars and Sofia Coppola having a playful day out in the tall grasses of the French country side, picnic in hand.
Tags: Phoenix, Sofia Coppola, Thomas Mars, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
1901
Posted by BrokenSilence | Filed under Phoenix
Great news. Phoenix is set to release their new album ‘Wolfgang Amadaeus Phoenix’ (horrible title, I know) on May 25th, soon, yet painfully still so far away. But the French boys have unleashed their new single ‘1901′ to partially satiate the gap we’ve been feeling since the release of their last record three years ago. All ironic, since just the other day I was wondering when they’d be putting out some new sounds.
Now, I don’t love the new single, but, I definitely like it a lot. It follows a long the more rock based sound with loose, easy guitars of their last release ‘It’s Never Been Like That’ as opposed to the more electronic, post disco, synth filled funk of their album ‘Alphabet’ (my favorite). ‘1901′ feels like a marriage between the two, some dirty, distorted guitars and keyboards, Thomas Mars’ young and playful crooning voice, and their characteristically catchy hooks. And what a killer keyboard buzz intro. For those of you not familiar with Phoenix’s ouevre, I’ve attached a couple of other tracks. Also, take a look at the link to the website for ‘1901′, I love it, maybe because I have a thing for neon lights, but I love how it’s designed and timed. Well, being one of my favorite bands, I’m really hoping the new album is great.
Some fun Phoenix facts for you as well. Lead singer Thomas Mars is dating Sofia Coppola, they have a child together. And before Phoenix was formed, guitarist Laurent Brancowitz was in a Beach Boys inspired band called ‘Darlin’ with two guys named Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem Christo. A review in British music mag ‘Melody Maker’ called their sound ‘a bunch of daft punk’. Darlin’ split up and Bangalter and Christo went onto form none other than Daft Punk.
Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better
Tags: Alphabet, Beach Boys, Daft Punk, Darlin', Guy Manuel de Homem Christo, It's Never Been Like That, Laurent Brancowitz, Melody Maker, Sofia Coppola, Thomas Bangalter, Thomas Mars
