15 July 2020

Band: PHOSPHENE (Portland, Oregon, US)
Who: Phosphene’s history began in 2008, when bandmates Rachel Frankel (vocals/guitar) and Matt Hemmerich (drums) met in San Francisco. As classmates in the same English course, they quickly discovered their mutual love for music and desire to create. Since forming, Phosphene has continued to refine and evolve their sonic palette to reflect their diverse influences. The band is an amalgam of rock, dream pop, and shoegaze with Rachel’s bright melodies bursting through.

Album: LOTUS EATERS – second LP
Released: 10 July 2020
Info: The songs that comprise Lotus Eaters were written during a period of mass transition and upheaval. The writing and recording process of this album took place preceding and following the 2016 election, when extremism and bigotry prevailed across the United States and world at large. The title Lotus Eaters is loosely derived from Greek mythology, which describes a person in a peaceful but apathetic haze from continually eating lotus fruit. A similar, escapist notion was pervasive across the U.S., and it certainly impacted each of us personally. It took a great deal of focus and fortitude to resist that inertia and move forward as a band. Songwriting has always been joyful and cathartic for each of us in different aspects: a distraction from anxiety, an outlet for depression, or a unique way to express our introverted selves in a way that feels most genuine and heartfelt—and that catharsis is what carried us through.Although we’ve tinkered with our sound before, we really started to revamp our style and framework in more experimental ways on Lotus Eaters. From incorporating spoken word poetry and dismantling song structures to constantly swapping instruments, a newfound growth and confidence was evident in this collection of music. Lotus Eaters emanates a fervor that we want to resonate with each listener. And as turbulent as these times can be, we hope this album can be a source of comfort and inspiration for those seeking.

Key references: Mazzy Star, Cocteau Twins, The Sundays, Beach House

Key phrase: “There are some people who live in a dream world,
and there are some who face reality, and then there are those who
turn one into the other.” – Douglas H. Everett

Key tracks: Incinerate / Frames / Carousel / Cocoon

Stream/buy album here…

.
PHOSPHENE: Facebook