"Lisztomania" by Phoenix
Lisztomania starts with a click and a piano chord, then the whole thing lifts. It's crisp and airy. Nothing is buried. This pop confection rewards a system that can separate midrange detail.
Lisztomania starts with a click and a piano chord, then the drums and bass lock in and the whole thing lifts. Phoenix and Philippe Zdar's production on Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is crisp and airy. Nothing is buried. The synths shimmer at the edges. Thomas Mars's vocal sits just ahead of the bed, dry and clear. The stereo image is wide. Guitars and keys trade places left and right. On headphones you can follow every layer. It is indie pop that rewards a system that can separate midrange detail without losing the groove. The kick drum punches like Tyson.
Listen for: The stereo piano that opens the track, left and right, then the way the bass and kick enter at 0:08 and lock the groove. Around 2:30 the breakdown strips to drums and a single synth line before the full band returns. The dynamic build is the payoff.
Data
Song: Lisztomania
Album: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Artist: Phoenix
Genre: Indie Pop, Synth-Pop
Year: 2009
Length: 4:02
Producer: Phoenix, Philippe Zdar
