'1901' leaps out of the speakers, already vying for the Best Song of 2009, with its fizzy power synths, rollicking drums and downright anthemic chorus. From opener and first single 'Lisztomania,' it’s clear this is Phoenix light-years beyond anything they’ve done before, a testament to the record’s finely-tuned intricacy and melodic structures. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, a tongue-in-cheek title meditating on the idea of 'classic and upstart,' was born. And thus, after a solid year and a half of tedious reworkings and endless going-back-to-the-starts, the record clicked. With Zdar, who co-produced the album (a first for the band, who previously worked with little help from others, hence the undisturbed precision of Phoenix’s universe), they focused on the idea of greatness, determined to create something that would be exciting not only to their rabid fanbase, but to themselves. From attempting to work on a houseboat in the River Seine, to camping out at New York City’s Bowery Hotel, to eventually retreating to the Montmartre house of friend Philippe Zdar of Cassius to record in his studio, the band constantly challenged themselves to write the album they knew they had in them, but couldn’t seem to find, no matter where they went. After a triumphant worldwide tour behind It’s Never Been Like That, Phoenix came back to Paris and tried to figure out where to go next - literally. While starting to make Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, however, perfection eluded them, as the band - comprised of Thomas Mars (vocals), Laurent 'Branco' Brancowitz (guitars), Christian Mazzalai (guitars) and Deck D’Arcy (keyboards/bass) - seemed initially unable to find an environment to provide them with sufficient inspiration. Staying true to what makes Phoenix so special, a sense of whimsical breeziness envelopes these songs, as if they’ve sprung fully-formed from the band’s collective creative hands in a state of utter pop perfection. Indeed, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is nothing short of elative, creating what is sure to be the soundtrack to late-night summer adventures all over the globe.
These songs are some of their most exuberantly playful, yet also some of the most complex they’ve recorded, more layered and intensely propulsive than previous efforts. Born out of restlessness and a steady hunt for inspiration, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is a career-defining album, filled with the band’s signature melding of synthetics and organics, sharp, danceable rhythms, infectious choruses with a considerable dose of aural panache, and candy-colored pop sensibilities.
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