Phantogram - Nightlife [Purple]

Phantogram's Nightlife glows on purple vinyl, the six-song 2011 EP that bridged the duo's debut album and the bigger stages that followed.

Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel grew up in upstate New York and built their sound from hip-hop beats, fuzzed-out guitars and dreamy pop melodies, a blend that set them apart from the indie crowd on their 2009 debut Eyelid Movies. Released on Barsuk, Nightlife showed how quickly they were sharpening those ideas, with tighter songs and darker moods that pointed toward their later major-label work.

Don't Move is the standout, a twitchy, sample-chopped groove that turns nervous energy into something irresistibly danceable. 16 Years opens the record on a moody, slow-burning note, while Make a Fist hits harder, its beat stomping beneath a cool, cutting vocal. The title track Nightlife lets the shadows creep in, ideal for the walk home after the party ends.

Sonically it is lush yet gritty, with looped samples, crunchy drums and shimmering keyboards layered into something cinematic. Carter's guitar textures and Barthel's voice play off each other like old friends finishing sentences.

At under half an hour, it is a compact listen that never wastes a second. A perfect pocket-sized introduction to a band that made trip-hop feel fresh again.