Love at first listen is a rare occurrence, especially if, like me, you’re a self-proclaimed picky listener. It takes a while to really become smitten with any artist. Those that win me over instantly usually bring something new to the table, reinvigorating music at their given time, and in those moments I can see myself revisiting their songs for years to come.
Madison, WI-based indie-pop band PHOX shows every sign of being the rare act that fits that bill; newest single “1936” is the type of song that makes you fall in love all at once. Dreamy and sweet, the swiftly picked guitar intro draws listeners into the richness that awaits in Monica Martin’s soulful vocal tones, woven through multiple layers of guitars and strings, supported by very calculated percussion and bass. Every instrument shines on this track at very specific moments in the song, from the to the precise and succinct sounds of the percussion in the chorus and the thick bass thudding through the whimsy of the bridge, to the intricate guitar breaks after each verse that thread the whole thing together. With the playful banjo that spices things up about a minute in, and the xylophonic sounds coming from the melding of the various guitar tones playing with each other, the lush instrumentation carries Martin’s voice through the enigmatic, oft-repeated line her blood is our blood too, I know.
Though it feels lighthearted throughout, “1936” centers on coming to terms with our genetic makeup – a family disturbance turned into an understanding of how to navigate one’s familial predispositions. That’s a pretty complex topic to cover in only three and a half minutes, but PHOX accomplishes the task with poetically crafted lyrics and a very evocative chorus.
PHOX releases their debut full-length on June 24 through Partisan Records, and if you know what’s good for your soul, you should definitely give this group a listen. They’re on tour the rest of the summer – see when they’re stopping in your city below.
Tue Jun 24, 2014 – Omaha NE – The Waiting Room
