Progress Report: Phoenix
Twice a week, Jessica Suarez's Progress Report updates you on what your favorite bands have been doing. Or not doing.
NAME: Phoenix
PROGRESS REPORT: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, out in Spring 2009. Recorded at Philippe Zdar's studio in Montmartre, Paris.
"Fast and intense" is how Phoenix's lead singer Thomas Mars describes the band's next record. The Paris-based foursome are men of few words, or maybe few English words and more French ones. Either way, though they've just completed their followup to 2006's It's Never Been Like That, they're not giving away details in any language. But if the record is "fast and intense," then it sounds like it travels further down the same path as It's Never Been Like That, a rougher LP for a band whose discography was all rounded edges and glossy textures. Or perhaps the new record will fuse both. "Our production on It's Never Been Like That was pretty raw, this time we wanted to get back to something more sophisticated," guitarist Laurent Brancowitz explains. "Looking back I realize that this new album shares many similarities with United, our first one." Mars has a slightly different take on Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. "I feel like we started this record without any specific goal in mind, which wasn't the case with our last one," Mars says. "The last record was about our present, this one is about our future."
Maybe not having any specific goals was what left the album open to movement and change. In 2006, Mars' "present" was both extensive touring in the U.S. and overseas, and the birth of his daughter with partner Sofia Coppola. While It's Never Been Like That was completed in an old East German radio station, their current LP was written on the move -- a boat on the Seine, the former studio of 19th century painter Théodore Géricault. "We spent all our money on inspiration," Mars admits. Phoenix finally settled at Philippe Zdar's studio in Montemarte from May 2007 until December 2008, working from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays. Zdar, who is part of electronic duo Cassius, mixed Phoenix's 2000 album, United. "As we were writing the songs in his studio in Paris, Philippe would drop by and always have something very useful to say about the songs," he says. The band always produced their own records, but Zdar's input led to a co-production credit here.
Mars says he'd listened to Lou Reed's Street Hassle for some inspiration, but it's clear from some of the Phoenix's other new projects that the band has many influences. The band are planning an audio mixtape for Paris label Kitsuné's Tabloid series in March. It will feature "rarities" both recent and from previous decades. Still, classical influences seem to outweigh these more modern ones on the new record. Mars says he's most looking forward to playing "Lisztomania" when the band start playing the songs live ("When we play them live first, we never record them after. It seems to be against nature."). Next to the album title and its capital-R Romantic birth, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix may be about the past as well as the future.
Some pics from the studio by Shoichi Kajino:
You can hear a very short (40 seconds!) preview of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix at wearephoenix.com.
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Posted at 1:48 PM by Jessica in Progress Report
Tags: Cassius | Phoenix
Ladies and germs, we have our first contender for Best Album Title of 2009.
Score = 3
One of my personal favorites, and apparently Bill Murray's too. I've heard stories about him getting drunk with other Saturday Night Live alums at NY Phoenix shows. Guess he was inspired by Lost in Translation too. One of the better live bands I've seen, although the whole "singing in the crowd" at the end of the show, is kind've gimmicky. There's a few videos of it on their Evri profile page http://www.evri.com/organization/phoenix-0x13d31.html
Score = 4
But will the music be any good?
Score = -3
They should change their name to Eurostrokes.
Score = -10
I'm excited, but how will Roger Daltrey feel? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzG1qcav8aA
Score = 2
I heard the guy from Phoenix is banging the chick from Godfather Pt. III.
Score = -4
Rentals update, please.
Score = 0
Superdrag update too, please.
Score = 1
I think Phoenix is the best active band in the world because of It's Never Been Like That.
Score = 3
Phoenix is fantastic and thanks for the update. I would like an update on Caribou please.
Score = 1
Remind me to spend some good time with this band
Score = 2
If Phoenix's new album is anything like United, than it will easily be among the best albums of 2009, 2010, or whatever year it comes out. Most people seem to know Phoenix only from the Lost in Translation soundtrack or the less-than-alright It's Never Been Like That. This is unfortunate. United is one of my favorite albums of all time. For those who haven't listened to it, you must check out the epic seven minute Hank Williams meets Prince meets Van Halen meets Thriller-era Michael Jackson escapade entitled "Funky Squardance." We should all be thankful for a band like Phoenix, that is, if they start being themselves again and stop prenteding to be some boring garage rock band.
Score = 1
I'm sure Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix will be just as enjoyable as It's Never Been Like That. I love the jangly hooks.
Score = 1
Wilco, please.
Score = -2
where is jens lekmen?? track his goodness down please
Score = 1
I agree, funky squaredance was and is a super terrific song.
They released a new song from the album a few months on their website and it was pretty intense and very very good
Cant wait to hear the album and agree it will be one of the top albums of 2009
yd
Score = 0
these guys play it safe, but manage to sound good doing it... unlike many of their contemporaries. i'll give it spin.
Score = 2
The latest album was a bit crap. But loved alphabetical. Hoy.
Score = 0
Their last album was so much better than thier first two albums and really made me a fan, so the fact that it sounds like they are keeping it in the same key as the last album with the uptempo sound i am happy. Really good time to be a fan of indie music. New albums from Decemberists, Swan Lake, Andrew Bird, AC Newman, Franz Ferdinand, Beirut, and Phoenix, just to name a few.
Score = 0
If the cunt wasn't banging Sophia Coppola, would any of us even be talking about these talentless douchebags?
Uh.... je crois que non!
Score = -1
Yes.
Score = 1