Glis - Phoenix - CD

Almost 8 years have passed since the release of "Nemesis". Shaun Frandsen started recording new music again, but he has changed with time, he aged and started reflecting on the music from his youth. He went through a nostalgic period and ‘Phoenix’ is clearly a very personal album for Shaun Frandsen, almost an autobiographical journey: "I wrote it as an ode for those who have inspired me the most. I didn’t hide my heart at all," he says. This album begins rough, dark and chaotic, sometimes sad. On "Phoenix", GLIS took a bit of Bowie and Eno and a classic-era 4AD sound to create the ambiance and grabbed some inspiration from Nine Inch Nails, Underworld and Joy Division for the body of the music. It's when female vocalist Lauren Krothe is introduced on the album that ushers in the transition from darkness to light, lo-fi darkwave with an ethereal hint to Cocteau Twins. Then come the anthemic and hooky "Crush" and the instant hit "Stars in the Sea" which both end the journey on a hopeful positive outlook and loop with the opening and closing groovey track "Apocalypse Parties" that will remind you of the early WaxTrax electro/industrial sound with a touch of melodic modernity. By writing it with his heart, Shaun Frandsen definitely accomplished something personal and meaningful with this album, giving integrity and soul to "Phoenix", a chef d'oeuvre which falls down and rebuilds itself in a way that follows the fabled cycle. The track-list is set up in the same way. It's an ode to GLIS' past but also a nod to the future…   Tracks: 01 apocalypse parties 02 insomniac 03 dead set 7am 04 keep the memory 05 death by misadventure 06 burned up 07 seconds 08 coldheart tempo 09 reprise: the way you're falling 10 take it this far 11 watch over you 12 blue sky night 13 crush 14 stars in the sea 15 apocalypse parties (trashed by ELLIOTT BERLIN)