Album Review: Phantastic Ferniture Don’t Overthink Their Self-Titled Debut
Before I begin my review of Phantastic Ferniture’s self-titled debut, I begin with an origin story that explains the heart of their sound:
Phantastic Ferniture’s spiritual home may be the garage, but they were born in a basement bar for a pizzeria in Sydney. One late night in 2014, on Jacklin’s birthday, a group hug manifested amid the pinball machines, with ten friends vowing to form a band, but only three people remembering that oath and taking it seriously. United by fern puns and a love of leisurewear, the trio met up whenever schedules would allow to write songs and play dates. With their popularity rising, they realized music is not a side-project; its their future.
Alright, I will stop my “comic-book” style retelling of Phantastic Ferniture’s origins, but I love a story of people meeting and deciding that their happiest self is their truest self. For Phantastic Ferniture, there is only one mission in life and music: not to overthink! You may diminish that focus but it plays into their confidence as a sound. Tracks like, “Parks,” “Gap Year,” “Mumma y Papa,” and “Uncomfortable Teenager” make you feel like you are at a skate park: rolling with friends, watching them bust through tricks, and laughing at the world as if you never felt it conquer you. To this trio, you should never let go of your youthful invincibility, especially in the face of anxiety.
Phantastic Ferniture – Gap Year (Official Video)
“Take It Off,” “F*ckin ‘n’ Rollin”, “Need It” and “Bad Timing” swivel and swerve with guitar melodies that ride as if on a carousel. They speedily go up and down amongst light hooks and painted drum-rolls to turn this album into an easy listen. On first listen, you will want to hear Phantastic Ferniture’s debut again and again. Their garage pop sound feels as effortless as breathing while being carried by the fumed, fluorescent vocals of Julia Jacklin.
Phantastic Ferniture – Bad Timing (Official Video)
Jacklin’s voice feels like misted lights zooming down dark roads. She brightens any weighty baseline or verse with her smoldering vocality, which is why their garage sound silvers through in distinction. When you think of “garage music,” it may seem angst-ridden or punkish, but there is a playfulness to Phantastic Ferniture that makes any negative vibe fleeting. Instead, they feed the need for every human being to be wild, spontaneous, and liberated. For More Information On Phantastic Ferniture And To Buy Their Debut on July 27 Click Here.
