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Phoenix rising
Postmodern French Rock
Paris
16/04/2004 -
The four members of Phoenix have been friends since school where they bonded together through a common love of rock. Inevitably, the foursome went on to form their own band, making their first appearance on the Source Rocks compilation (a 'panoramic view' of the new French rock scene put out by the Source label in the late 90s). Phoenix's contribution met with general enthusiasm and the four friends soon returned to the studio to work on their début album, United. This proved to be an unusual, hard-to-categorise work, Phoenix's hybrid sound influenced by both their 80s FM rock heritage and the euphoric pop songs of the late 60s. Despite this quirky mix, United featured two outstanding tracks, If I Ever Feel Better and Too Young, which recently reappeared on the soundtrack of Sofia Coppola's latest film Lost In Translation. Interestingly enough, the American director also gave Phoenix's Versailles neighbours, Air, a helping hand in launching an international career when she asked the French duo to write the soundtrack of her first film, Virgin Suicides.
Sensing the time was right to push Phoenix beyond national borders, the group's record label pulled out all the stops. And over the past few years the French foursome have established themselves on the international rock circuit, injecting vital new verve and energy into the scene. Inspired by the smooth Californian rock vibe, Phoenix have followed the lead of groups such as Playgroup and Zoot Woman, reviving a typically 80s sound (which audiences ten years ago would have rejected outright!) However, while Phoenix continue to attract an increasing number of fans abroad, their sound has been met with almost total incomprehension at home. Maybe it's the fact they grew up near the royal palace in Versailles or that they insist on singing in English, but Phoenix have attracted a fair amount of criticism and suspicion in France, earning themselves a reputation for having been born with a silver spoon in their collective mouth. In short, Phoenix appear to have encountered exactly the same hostility as Air did in the early years of their career in France.
Four years after their controversial debut, Phoenix are now back in the music news with Alphabetical. The group's follow-up album does not look set to endear them to French fans, however, as it is recorded in the same postmodern vein as United. The canny foursome from Versailles prove themselves to be adepts of New Millennium technology on their new album, wrapping their songs in rhythmic canvases influenced by the r'n'b and hip hop productions of acts like Timbaland or Dr Dre. Alphabetical has a strong 70s feel, Phoenix perfectly capturing the groove of that age when riding along in an open-topped sports car, hair flying in the wind, was a lifestyle! Joyously funky guitars explode on tracks such as Everything Is Everything or launch into a more folksy style of arpeggio on Run, Run, Run, Love Granted. As for vocalist Thomas Mars, he really comes into his own on songs like I’m An Actor and Holdin’On Together where his voice takes on sensual soul tones.
In short, the ten tracks on Alphabetical prove that although the Phoenix boys may not yet be termed studio sharks, they definitely know the ropes. Their new album, mixed by Tony Hoffer (renowned for his work with Air and Beck), features finely-crafted songs and indolent pop with an almost timeless feel. But the jury in France is still out on the question of whether the four Phoenix boys are just expert arrangers or whether they might actually be misunderstood geniuses, after all!
Marion Guilbaud
Translation : Julie Street
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