We've said it before, and we won't hesitate to reiterate as many times as necessary: there's a difference between creating a solid song, and piecing together a remarkable project. The best artists are often those that can do the latter, and when we see a group like Phoria unleash seamless effort after seamless effort (all of which coalesce into a journey of an EP), we know that they're here to stay. If you've been following the five-piece on their recent ascension to excellence, too, then you've probably already taken a good listen to the majority of their EP, but if you happen to be new to the group, then we envy your fresh opportunity to fully indulge yourself in Display, a hauntingly dark, strongly emotive, and ecstatic work fortified by four brilliant songs. A soothing, solemn croon on our favorite track of the project, "Emanate", immediately sets the tone of Display. The song, or compressed symphony, rather, stands out a bit from the bunch with its unparalleled journey from soft downtempo to overwhelming euphoria, overall amounting to arguably the most uniquely structured, utterly empowering efforts we've heard this year. The UK-based band decided to follow up with "Undone", a downpour of melancholic beauty through minimal percussion, deep piano chords, and heart-wrenching violins. After such an emotionally strenuous song, Phoria made the move to slip in a faster-moving track with "Atomic". With this one, they display their ability to branch out from their downtempo feel with quick guitar plucks and an upbeat drum kit, but their shadowy vibe is still incorporated through some dark synths. Lastly, Phoria wraps the EP up with the soporific sounds of "Efforttobreathe", perhaps the most downtempo piece on the project. The song is largely carried by dreary synths atop a set of sparse percussion, yet it expands into much more powerful territories with the addition of much heavier synths and bass. The very essence of music (in general) is something that is absolutely befuddling, and as to why it's so enjoyable to us and others is a highly debated topic. However, one of the most distinctive traits of humanity is the wide spectrum of emotions that we can feel, and the most effective music can tap into this human trait and conjure strong emotions simply through its sounds. And while the emotions that Phoria bring about aren't particularly cheery, the beauty with which they generate these notably strong emotions is absolutely exceptional, and for that, we recommend Display to all who happen upon it. Purchase Display on iTunes.
Phoria