In a continuation of the direction Phoenix took on their previous two albums, Bankrupt! and Ti Amo, the band favors needling synths and skittering drum machines over the crisp guitars and live percussion of their earlier efforts. Guitars still tinker in the background in spots across Alpha Zulu, and they finally take center stage on both “Artefact” and the penultimate track, “My Elixir,” but the instrument’s usage almost feels antiquated after the more contemporary, computer-effect-dominated songs that precede them.
I also love the film clip for Alpha Zulu and the manipulation of art pieces.