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Phantogram : Eyelid Movies

Barsuk Records

On its debut full-length album Eyelid Movies, electronic pop duo Phantogram makes music for a cinematic dreamscape. Inspired by hypothetical nightmarish scenarios like creepy chase scenes and suspenseful thriller-worthy fodder, this Saratoga Springs, N.Y. twosome channeled these anxiety-inducing Hitchcockian scenes into a sound that’s equal parts trip-hop, synth-pop, moody indie rock, and shoegaze. This atmospheric offering, recorded in a barn with analog synths, is simultaneously soothing and edgy with songs like “Bloody Palms” and “Futurist Casket” that up the creepy-yet-calm factor. The slinky opener “Mouthful of Diamonds” is a darkly danceable track with a hypnotic groove and sinister lyrics while the beat-heavy “Running from the Cops” incorporates a grinding bassline with eerie distorted vocals fit for a David Lynch flick.