Setting the tone with a hypnotising 8-bit metallic synth melody with divergent bassline, Phantom Isle open 2001 with a futuristic energy, atmospheric vocals and situational lyrics.
The opus expands into a dimensional piece with glitched sound design and smooth delivery to take us on a transcendental and cosmic journey about love and loss.
We appreciate the raw authenticity as the trio from Northampton depict “the loss of a school friend of both band members Peter Marchant and Joshua in 2001, echoing the experience the band had when fellow member Matt Marchant passed in 2019.”
Resulting in a cathartic output for the artists and listener, 2001 holds a deep sense of relatability for anyone who has lost someone close to them. The track follows their 90s rave inspired single 1992 from earlier this year, and we appreciate the techno elements that the release exudes, taking their pain and turning it into power.
Band member Joshua confesses, “‘The writing process was a journey to reconcile the past and we needed something to lift us out of it; 2001 is us on the up.”
The ethereal middle-eight with the existential lyric, “You never really died…”, and instrumental outro-reprise with an out-of-this-world guitar solo have us in awe.
We love what Phantom Isle are creating and their humbling yet uplifting message, and have added 2001 to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream their existing discography including Mar V and I Am Urs.