Clear w/Yellow Swirl Vinyl

Phantogram’s music sounds like it’s made by a band from the city. Electronic loops, hip-hop beats, Shoegaze, soul and pop each finds its way into their songs. Unexpectedly, the band doesn’t live and work in a major urban center, but rather calls the town of Saratoga Springs, NY (population 26,186) home. Despite the cultural influence of local Skidmore College and a relatively small scene of adventurous musicians and listeners, Saratoga isn’t exactly teeming with fans of J Dilla, My Bloody Valentine or Serge Gainsbourg. In fact, the town itself isn’t rural enough for their taste — they drive almost 45 minutes every day into upstate farmland to a barn they call Harmony Lodge to write and record.

Using various samplers, tapes, records, synths, drums, and both percussive and stringed instruments, Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, the duo that make up Phantogram, have allowed their natural surroundings and metropolitan influences to mix, resulting in brilliant, unusual recordings that are beautiful yet hard, dreamlike yet substantial, danceable yet smart.

Released: 10/3/25