Phantom Punch [ENHANCED]

Sondre Lerche and the Faces Down, Sondre Lerche

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 6, 2007)
• Original Release Date: February 6, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B000KRN66S
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,039 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
As with jazz-oriented departure Duper Sessions, Phantom Punch is a group effort. Sure, Norway's favorite son is still at the center of the action, but his fourth is billed as Sondre Lerche and the Faces Down. In other words, this isn't a singer/songwriter affair, but rather Lerche (vocals, guitar), Ole Ludvig Krüger (drums), Morten Skage (bass, percussion), and Kato Ådland (guitar, keyboards) on power-pop pills. (Inara George from the Bird and the Bee contributes backing vocals.) While the album isn't a complete change of pace, it does represent a shift into slightly harder-edged territory. Like shoes that haven't been broken in yet, the results are mostly successful (they look sharp, but pinch a bit). Lerche has never denied a debt to tour mate Elvis Costello, but now he’s sounding a little like Costello's pals in Squeeze, surely one of the most tuneful acts to emerge from the new wave era. If Phantom Punch has a flaw, it's that Lerche's hooks aren't as pointed as they could be, a problem with his work since auspicious debut Faces Down. Granted, it isn't a major matter, and beautifully sung numbers like "Say It All" and "John, Let Me Go" are among his best. But he hasn't yet drafted a ditty as memorable as, say, "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)," and there's no doubt he's got the talent to do it. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Impressions, February 11, 2007

By	idiotech (USA) - See all my reviews

I bought this album yesterday, so it hasn't had a chance to grow on me, but I can offer a few impressions.

First of all, longtime fans should be warned that this is the least melodic thing Sondre Lerche has ever done. The music is angular and energetic, at times downright raucous, and the wistful pop hooks of Two-Way Monologue are nowhere to be found. Instead, we have rapid, unpredictable melodies that twist and turn through a variety of blue notes and key changes. Some bits are catchy, while others (on first listen at least) are just hard to follow. These songs are clearly the product of an agile and highly trained musical mind, and I find them fascinating on an intellectual level. Emotionally, however, they seem somewhat barren: too much logic, not enough feeling. Again, I have not given the songs a chance to grow on me, so it's entirely possible that the emotion is there and I'm missing it. And to be fair, there are a few numbers here that immediately struck me as pretty, specifically Tragic Mirror, John Let Me Go, and Happy Birthday Girl. Hence, I'm giving this album the benefit of the doubt and not four but five stars - really four and a half, but I decided to round up because of my general esteem for the artist and because I'm the only reviewer so far. Plus, I have a feeling I will start to like it better. Most of my favorite albums struck me this way at first.

I recommend Phantom Punch highly if you are a musician or songwriter, or if you just really love Sondre Lerche. His voice and lyrical personality are as quirky and likeable on this album as they have ever been. However, there is no doubt that this is less accessible than his previous work; even the jazz of Duper Sessions, I think, does more to draw in the casual listener. You should only buy this album if you have a certain amount of patience; that said, I hope you do have the patience, because I think you'll find it's worth it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sondre All Grown Up, March 9, 2007

By	S. Smith "sajasma" (Oxford, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sondre Lerche's fourth LP release is a refreshing departure from his earlier work: it's more frenetic and upbeat, experimenting with Latin American-flavored twists and yet still maintaining a definitively "indie rock" label, more so than the sweet-sounding pop melodies of Two Way Monologue and Faces Down (and obviously more so than the jazzy Duper Sessions). There is a revitalizing energy to Phantom Punch that assures the listener that Sondre refuses to box himself into any one category, always experimenting with different types of music without losing that distinctive and wholly original appeal.

"Airport Taxi Reception," "The Tape," "Phantom Punch," and "Face the Blood" are the songs that will get fans tapping their feet and heads along with some truly ear-catching hooks and Franz Ferdinand-inspired riffs. "Say It All," "Tragic Mirror," "Well Well Well," and "After All" are more representative of classic Sondre, and yet there is an air of maturity there that has replaced the sweet but naively innocent impression of earlier albums.

Hardcore fans will recognize the third incarnation of former B-Side "John, Let Me Go" that has cropped up on several EPs over the years in both acoustic and electric form. This time, it's even more pumped up, with a longer, more energized bridge that incorporates some great harmonica work.

Suffice to say, if you're a Sondre fan, you will adore this album as always. If you're new to Sondre, this album is far more mainstream-geared than any prior album and is an excellent introduction into the the ouvre of this phenomenally talented singer and songwriter.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Phantom Punch, February 20, 2007

By	T. Snyder "TS" (AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sondre's fourth album "Phantom Punch" is just that: punchy. It's way more upbeat and frenetic and LOUD than his previous work. It's especially LOUDER than the superb Duper Sessions, which I absolutely loved.

His softer singer/songwriter style that was on display in his first two albums still shines through on a few tracks. Thankfully, his very distinct voice is there throughout.

But, be warned, this is a bit of a departure from his previous efforts. That said, it's still way better than 90% of the other CD's you could be buying. I'm not a fan of the louder Sondre, but it grows on me with each repeat listening. He's still a superb, relatively unknown, artist.