REVIEWS

E. Joseph and the Phantom Heart
All the Medicine in the World...

The Beechfields

Posted: Thursday, October 23, 2008
By: Ilker Yücel
Editor

It has been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, and if one were to take one look at Edward Joseph Neenan Buddy Holly-ish spectacles, sporting his guitar on a stage, and belting out his emotively somber vocals, one might be inclined to draw comparisons to Elvis Costello. However, while such a likeness would certainly be appropriate, the songs that he and his band The Phantom Heart exhibit on their debut album, All the Medicine in the World..., are as much rooted in the alternative pop rock of the '80s, with just a few hints of new wave thrown in for good measure. Songs like opening track "Changing Trains," "Zero," and "The Red Line" soak the listener with waves of feedback-drenched guitars, symphonic keyboard touches, and a head-bopping rhythm section that is as likely to submerge the listener into a shoegazing trance as it is to send them rushing to the dance floor. Songs like "Pulling Me Under" with its lyrical urgency and saccharine melodies and "The Big 'What If'" with its slightly discordant chords and tones will recall the likes of Echo and the Bunnymen or the early '90s output of New Order (it would not be out of place for this band to do a cover of New Order's "Regret"), while "10mg" slowly marches its way into the listener's psyche, bringing to mind the hazy drug-fueled segues of Trainspotting, only less disturbing and more psychedelic. "Drifting" is perhaps the finest example of the band's sound, with the lyrics proclaiming "We're fading in, we're fading out, just drifting. We're checking in, we're checking out, just drifting." Lyrically, E. Joseph rides the fine line between heart-filled optimism and nihilistic melancholy, with the vocal interplay between him and bassist Mia Regalado adding to the dreamy ambiences carried by Snuttock's keyboards. More than anything, E. Joseph's guitars and Nick Porcaro's drums keep the music grounded firmly in a familiar vibe that would put the band on par with the current wave of '80s-inspired indie rock, while still meshing with the washes of swirling atmospheres to make for an enticing blend of styles. Above all, what E. Joseph and the Phantom Heart offer is a release from the caustic rage exhibited by so many in today's music scene, sacrificing none of the poignancy or the volume. It's the songwriting and the tight-knit interaction among the band members that makes All the Medicine in the World... an excellent debut from a band that promises to bring listeners some fine music for a long time to come.