Failing to reach even four minutes, “Alive” is a declaration. Phoeno showcases their skill for combining lush production with raw, emotional lyrics from the opening shimmer of electronic textures to the song’s uplifting chorus. It’s indie, it’s electro and it’s very, very Irish with a modern sensibility that could easily get these guys into world playlists.
This debut single plays into themes of rebirth and emotional awakening. There’s a cinematic sweep to the song’s composition, from the fragile verses that unspool like intimate journal entries and then suddenly bloom into a euphoric, sky-reaching chorus. It’s an invitation to come out of the static and feel again as though the track is restarting the ticker in real time.
And the production isn’t the only thing that’s glowing. The vocals intimate and anthemic slide coolly atop layers of lush synths and pulsing percussion, swelling into a soundscape equally welcome in a dark club as on a foggy coastal drive. There’s a quiet confidence to the way the band allow these moments to breathe before punching them out with rhythmic clarity.
Phoeno is blazing their own sonic trail a trail illuminated by neon synths, poetic purpose and unstoppable groove. “Alive” plants a firm flag in the ground, announcing the arrival of a band poised to soundtrack a new generation of indie-electronic dreamers.
One of the attacks of “Alive” is fought on that front by Phoeno too and if this is her debut, then the future is sure to be extraordinary.