Phantasea Pharm by Cumgirl8

From the indie sleaze jungle of New York City comes Cumgirl8, an artist as in tune with the city’s present as they are with its past. One part proto punk, two parts post punk, every bit Phantasea Pharm, the band’s new EP that sounds like a goth take on the 70s lower east side. Bouncy bass lines flutter around the highly exposed vocals, showing us what Joy Division would sound like with the vocal production ethic of The Velvet Underground & Nico. Of course, various songs deviate from this fusion, pulling the record temporarily in one direction or the other, stretching the compositional boundaries to make a sound that best fits each song’s themes. At times flippantly carefree while at others tragically romantic, Cumgirl8 seems torn by the internal will to make self-destructive decisions and the crushing weight of the ramifications that follow. As a result, the record oscillates in tone from club bangers to thoughtful tracks that showcase monumentally strong songwriting. When the time comes to celebrate meaningless celebrations and their resulting hangovers, the music of Cumgirl8 will always serve you well. - Michael