The Phoenix Foundation – Give Up Your Dreams
4/5
Wellington, New Zealand is the home of progressive indie rock group The Phoenix Foundation, and since 1997 the band have been putting out CDs, touring, and winning numerous awards in their native land. With almost two decades under their belts, The Phoenix Foundation have officially released their sixth studio album Give Up Your Dreams.
Photo by Will Moore
With a title that sounds like something a cold-hearted parent would say when they have lost hope in their child, the lyrical content of the album is not too far behind, even though the music may appear uplifting and promising.
Pessimistic, optimistic, realistic – whichever view on life they identify as – their sound is undeniably expansive and texturally enchanting; the synchrony of the lead vocals, rhythm section, and the synthetic melodies form a whirlwind of sonic substance cycled by musical creativity and genuine talent and expertise.
Lead single and opening track “Mountain” highlights their spacious sound with each of the six members having a potent part, from hyperactive percussion, frantic synthesizers, and soothing vocals layered overtop; psychedelic and disorienting textures give “Mountain” a dramatic, yet unnerving ambience, similar to the interstellar, slick-synthesizer track “Celestial Bodies”, and album closer “Myth”.
Prominent percussion is a running theme on the album. “Playing Dead” quickly hypnotizes the listener with the clockwork-like drumming and accompanying secondary percussion with tribal influences and electronic trance elements. “Silent Orb” strips down to the bare components of the rhythm with synthetic drum tones, but without losing the progressive, grandiose effect found throughout the album.
Give Up Your Dreams has a fun side to it as well, with “Bob Lennon John Dylan” quickly becoming an album favourite with the progressive pop flare, and the ‘60s-pop infused title track that inflates and deflates your confidence in less than five minutes: “Don’t let anyone tell you you’re special…Don’t let anyone say that the world is your oyster. The world is not an oyster. It is a cold, dark planet….”.
Fluctuating between dramatic, spirited, and playful, Give Up Your Dreams is full of surprises, and with a unique aura for each track, The Phoenix Foundation continue to impress with their sixth LP. Stream the full album via The Guardian along with the track-by-track guide by the band.
