This tape came across as a total mystery to me, aside from
song titles and production credits this tape has no other information attached
to it. Luckily the internet was able to shed a little light on this one for me.
Phantasia is a five-piece sort of gothy, sort of punky, very rockin’ band from
New York, NY that has been kicking around since (seemingly) the summer of 2019.
Phantasia is driven by some great punchy drums and basslines
that will definitely make you want to dance. Sharp guitars stab while dreamy
synths wash over everything else. Topped with vocals delivered in an almost
monotone that bring to mind dazed Debbie Harry, and I promise that is not at
all a diss.
The pounding rhythm section keeps me coming back for more of
this, everything else is just icing on the cake. In a short 17 minutes
Phantasia offers 7 songs that seem to each build off of and compliment each
other in a way that many demos just don’t do. This does not come off as a
demonstration but more of a fully formed band, sound and concept.
“Rotten”, the longest song on the tape at 4.5 minutes shows
off the guitars quite a bit more and offers a nice change of pace. “I Broke A
Promise” follows it with a quick punchy number that has been my favorite of the
batch since my first listen. I would not hesitate to recommend this to any fans
of first wave punk, early new wave or even no wave for that matter. Highly infectious
rock n roll.
--Righteous James
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