Eyelid Movies (Bonus Track Version)

iTunes Review

Phantogram updates old-school trip-hop on the aptly titled Eyelid Movies, their first full-length release. Beginning with the addictive opener, “Mouthful of Diamonds,” these dozen tunes ricochet wildly between upbeat and melodic, gauzy and psychedelic, and flat-out eerie as lush loops and fractured beats collide with shoegazer guitar lines. The duo of Joshua Carter (guitar, vocals) and Sarah Barthel (keyboards, vocals) also throw in countless strange surprises to keep things interesting and ultra atmospheric. Barthel’s breathy, seductive vocals perfectly capture the chill mood of “All Dried Up,” “10,000 Claps,” and the hypnotic “When I’m Small,” while Carter sings lead on heavier cuts like “Turn It Off” and “Running from the Cops,” the latter of which features a deliciously disorienting vocal effect. Phantogram’s experimental approach offers something for nearly any fan of electronic pop and similar, sample-based styles.