Steel Phantoms have been on my radar ever since I heard the first chord of Curtain Call last year and was immediately transported to The Jam’s That’s Entertainment. The duo Aaron Harris, previously of Montreal’s Islands and Jesse Islands pump out scrambling songs that go from broody to brash in seconds. On Sunflowers vocals take a delicate gossamer turn (the word haunts sounds haunting), and even the drums glisten, quivering and glittering into a beat driven crescendo. Matt Le Blanc hints at their grungier side, whilst Friend to Friend is more smooth garage, sometimes with a nod to The Smiths via Sonic Youth. Overflow, its layers of love and enchantment over melodic and heightened chord sequences and gentle sway and soar tune is a stand out, and hints at Air Traffic.
Listen to a remix by Night Drive below.
https://soundcloud.com/nightdrivemusic/steel-phantoms-overflow-night
