smooth, smooth, smooth

The magnificent musical filtering agents at Fluxblog recently introduced me to the wonders of Phoenix. They produce an almost perfect modern pop - high gloss and soulful, full of lovely vocals and topped off by impeccable production. Hints of all those terrific Euro-pop writers stick out a mile but it's still sounds like a band (even if those drums would be impossible to play so metronomically for a human on their own).

mp3: Victim Of Crime

But they also lean into some slightly weird region sonically which will surely make them impossible to sell. So a niche market player they will probably remain.

Just like Lewis Taylor:

mp3: When Will I Ever Learn Part1

He's obviously more steeped in 'real' soul and the production is determinedly retro/analogue just to fit into this. But his commercial / independant split personality will always marginalise his music even though the he can write some of the most gorgeously smooth vocal lines I've heard in some time - better than all the melodies on Phoenix's new album.

One word of warning - don't listen to the words he sings. They travel the full spectrum of mediocrity - from the 'gonna love you all night, don't stop' style to the 'oh, baby, how could you treat me so bad' variety. At the very least, French lads Phoenix write obtuse, opaque lyrics that draw you in rather than hold you at bay.