Phantoms, the dynamic electronic duo of Kyle Kaplan and Vinnie Pergola, are set to release their highly anticipated Perpetual Motion EP on November 22, 2024, via ODESZA’s Foreign Family Collective. This collection marks a bold return to the indie dance and electro-clash sounds that initially inspired the duo’s musical journey.
The EP opens with Floating On, a track that introduces the listener to the collection with distinct French influences, setting a nostalgic yet forward-thinking tone. The title track, Perpetual Motion, released earlier in June, signals a grittier, more aggressive sound that sparked a new creative direction for the duo. Reflecting on the process, Phantoms share, “After quite a long time away from releasing music after our last album This Can’t Be Everything, we wanted to experiment with sounds that reminded us of the music that got us into electronic music in the first place – more synthy and electro-clash feeling.”
In keeping with their club-forward focus, Don’t Be Afraid featuring Notelle, released in September, incorporates indie dance elements with a message of hope and melancholy: “Don’t be afraid of where we’ll go.” The track marks the duo’s commitment to a sound that’s both danceable and emotionally resonant. Another standout, Without You featuring Mariah Colon, offers a nostalgic vibe, which the duo playfully describes as a track “I would send to a girl I had a crush on on a CD.”
The penultimate track of the EP, Non-Stop, nods to the blog house era, channeling the sounds they once played at house parties early in their careers. The collection closes with Moonflower featuring Varju of Slenderbodies, taking a departure from the club-centric focus. Born as an instrumental idea with indie synths and bass guitar, the track’s unique vocals and blend of synth and saxophone from Varju elevate it into uncharted territory, making it a memorable and standout moment on the EP.
Phantoms explain, “This EP marks an exciting turning point for us. After finishing our album This Can’t Be Everything, we wanted to make more club-leaning records for our DJ sets, without any real plan to release them. It felt like an opportunity to go back to our roots in the indie dance/electro/blog house world that got us into music in the first place. We’re super proud of how it came out and just excited to play a lot of these tracks live.”
Since debuting in 2016 with their Broken Halo EP, Phantoms have become a staple in the electronic music scene. Their self-titled debut album produced chart-topping hits like Just A Feeling (featuring Verite), which claimed the #1 spot on US Dance Radio for four consecutive weeks. Their 2019 Disconnect EP also earned widespread support, with singles like Say It receiving global airplay from the likes of Pete Tong, Diplo, and Martin Garrix. Their 2022 album This Can’t Be Everything continues to showcase their evolving style, blurring the lines between house, indie-dance, and alternative electronica.
With the Perpetual Motion EP, Phantoms reaffirm their place at the forefront of electronic music, blending nostalgia with forward-thinking innovation. The duo is eager to share these tracks with their fans in an upcoming live setting, building excitement for what’s to come.
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