4Q Magazine

The Phantom Band- The Wants (Review)

by Asa Masters on 6.02.11


The Phantom Band- The Wants
(Chemikal Underground)

I was genuinely intrigued when I heard about the new record from The Phantom Band. I thought their first effort ‘Checkmate Savage’ was extremely good; they had a unique sound on that record, which they carried off very well live, when I saw them play the main stage at Green Man festival 2009.

They didn’t hang around after the initial success of the first record, producing ‘The Wants’ 18 months after their debut, which, despite being praised, deserved to be more widely received. The opening track ‘A Glamour’ begins with a driving, repetitive rhythm, akin to the bass loop techniques that New York’s math super group Battles are known for. Rick Anthony’s thick, distinctly Scottish vocals then come washing over the song, which have a warm, homely quality.

It’s a great start to the album, as it shows a change in thinking from their last effort, while still sounding similar in essence. ‘Everyone Knows it’s True’ again has a well-written rhythm, with trademark instrumentation and familiar sounds that the band has used to harness their own sound over their two records. The following track ‘The None Of One’ is similar in feel to ‘Island’, the beautiful 8-minute ballad from the first record, as is ‘Come Away In The Dark’, which is by far the shortest song on the record, although it showcases one of the bands best qualities, with it’s soothing, wintery presence, and deep, romantic vocals.

The final track on the album begins with sweeping, cavernous vocals, before another catchy bass line vibrates and quickens the tempo, before Anthony’s heart warming vocals again raise and demand to be listened to. The airy vocals at the beginning of the track continue to wash under the rest of the song, before evolving into an epic, cathedral-like chant, with heavy marching drums and noisy synthesizers combining to bring an impacting climax to the album.

When I saw The Phantom Band at Green Man festival, they looked as though they couldn’t believe they were there; one of them had his back to the crowd for nearly the whole set. It’s great to see them release another album, and this time round it seems as though they’ve really slipped into their groove and written a more concise record. ‘The Wants’ is distinct in its sound and soul, and the band have done a great job in harnessing their unique resonance, producing an album which is rich in character, rhythm and song craft.

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