Exhilirating Electro-pop Jam

The Los Angeles alt-pop quartet, Phases, propagates a fun and infectious sound that might be recognizable to some. This could be due to the fact that the members have played in well-known acts such as Rilo Kiley, The Like, and Phantom Planet. Or perhaps it is because the band released an album in 2012 before undergoing a small metamorphosis. Originally a five-piece side project, the outfit operated under the name JJAMZ (an acronym, each letter representing the band members), until what began as an artistic release became the main focus for four of the members. After guitarist James Valentine decided to leave JJAMZ, the remaining four members reinvented themselves and became Phases, set to release their first studio album For Life September 18, 2015.

The 12-track album, For Life, can be categorized as an upbeat electro-pop indie record that wouldn’t be out of place on a top 40 chart 35 years ago. The inspiring and unique album is complete with synth-pop hooks and lively guitar riffs fronted by the melodic and haunting vocals of Z Berg, founder and vocalist of indie group, The Like. Though the retro synths create a dominant 80’s pop taste, the production quality of the album maintains a modern feel.

The opening track, “Silhouette,” is a fitting intro as it displays the playful nature of the record with a throwback synth bass-line, anchoring the track into a cascading pop chorus. “New Illusion” is a groovy track that follows the same retro-pop template prevalent on the album. The song sounds like a pre-party nighttime drive scene from an 80’s film set in Miami. A standout track on the album, “Sparks,” is a slower indie-pop ballad with a weightless feeling that is countered by the poignant and contemplative lyrics “What could have been / What could have been without you”.

The greatest art stems from passion. When musicians collaborate on a project that they truly want to be apart of, it can be heard in the music they create. Phases began as the artists’ escape from the pressures of their main projects. They succeed because their sound originates from a fun and carefree atmosphere of expression, which is palpable aspect of this album. For Life is the product of talented friends having fun.