All keys and vocals,
Phreak Fantasy leaves the listener with an intriguing case of
"I could do that too" crossed with a sincere respect for how well
the whole thing has been executed. These are strangely infectious
synth-pop tunes, seemingly straightforward in their manner yet
deceptively infectious. Marshmallow Coast's Andy Gonzales
has been at this for a long time, and is one of the longer-standing
members of the Elephant 6 troupe; his experience is evident on these
nine songs, which manage rough-around-the-edges brilliance that will
have you humming in your sleep.
Strangely enough,
the album's first song, "Nasty Dream," is one of its weaker moments;
based around a funky synth line that imbues the piece with a nifty
disco aesthetic, it would have clearly benefitted from a stronger
vocal part. Still, the real reason it sticks out is because it's
followed by such a strong set of songs. Sublimely pretty
"Millionaire," which boasts a well-placed cello part and a
miraculously infectious vocal melody, is a simply ingenious pop
fragment. Meanwhile, "Hangin' on a Cloud" is a brilliantly catchy
exercise in extravagant bedroom synth-pop that slyly transitions
from hook to hook, and guitar-led "Lonely Days" exudes a vague
Brit-pop influence. Also worthy of mention is finale "Phreak
Phantasy," which is a quirky, Soft Cell influenced
experiment.
As the liner notes
explain, Gonzales intends this to be his "R-rated" album,
lyrically speaking. The subject matter really isn't that bad,
although there's a quirky sort of edginess present. Lines like
"Naked chicks here I am/Don't regret it for the rest of your
life/When you could have a good time" and "Don't cry little
girl/Just fucking show me where your money's at" toy with a sense of
brusque machismo that's at odds with Gonzales' apparent sensibility.
As such, the album seems almost like an intellectual catharsis from
Andy's perspective - certainly a surprising affair from a band named
Marshmallow Coast.
Certainly, Phreak
Phantasy is a decidedly idiosyncratic and somewhat disjointed
album, but that doesn't stop it from being one of 2009's more
intriguing efforts. I'm glad I had the chance to hear it. Just skip
the hidden track.
