PHÈDRE | Phèdre

Their Bated Breath recently posted Phèdre’s video for a track called “In Decay”, a single off the band’s upcoming release. Well, that self-titled release is now streaming on soundcloud. It sounds like an early runner for one of my favorite records of 2012. If you think the brilliant tongue-and-cheek of “In Decay” was something, listen to the ultra-dance blip-fest of “Aphrodite”, which holds hints of a more romantic version of My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult. “Cold Sunday” is dark and lovely hybrid, a layering of shiny synth and vocals crawl over bubbly off-kilter rhythm changes and even a bit of rapping, copping a line (“my mind on my money and my money on my mind”) from Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice”. It’s really inventive. “Ode to the Swinger” is a dissonant car crash, scraping industrial distortion in the background, stomping percussion, and the creepy calling of an indistinguishable chorus. It’s scary and infective. The band even have a a couple of brief 10-second interludes, one of which sounds like the voice of host Ralph Edwards, delivering his famous line “This is your life …” from the 1950s show of the same name. The other is self-titled 19-second lullaby akin to Nico. “Dreams” is another creative genre-bender, with a slow club-waltz beat, glistening electronics and a soft high-pitched male lead vocal. “Glitter On Her Face” is a hypnotic, narcotized, intravenous slow-drip that deteriorates into lush keyboard melody and demonically exquisite choral chanting. This is a strangely glorious release. The band is the trio of Daniel Lee, April Aliermo, and Airick Woodhead. “Phèdre” is out Feb. 14 via Daps Records. – David D. Robbins Jr.