PHANTASIA

One of the best albums of 2008.

Lite is a math rock band from Japan with a very optimistic sound, post rock influences and a much moved/dynamic nature. It's not every day where you get a math rock band with such an addictive and unique sound, high quality and to say the least with incredible "danceable" energy (easy way to describe their sound). Phantasia is an album with barely no flaws, all the songs have their own essence and peculiar-catchy rhythm like Ghost Dance, Black And White, Solitude and Phantasia to point out a few.

Though being a math rock band, some of the songs seem to be driven by a post rock atmosphere in songs like Shinkai, Interlude, Solitude and Fade. This combination creates a balance and thus making their sound more melodic unlike other math rock bands that tend to create angular melodies.

The introductory song: Ef is one that easily catches the attention of your ears entirely with some sort of heavy riffs and intense drum play (though most songs have this energy outburst of the drummer). Black And White is very good to, with a very post rock oriented intro repeated in the midst of the ending. On the other hand Shinkai has a very atmospheric feel with a crescendo feel in it, as well as Solitude which follows a similar formula. In my opinion one the most standout songs would have to be Ghost Dance. It has the most "danceable" feel in it, just as its name implies, easily followed by Phantasia, which is even more energetic and explosive and the drums are very extreme. The closing song: Sequel to The Letter and Infinite Mirror remind me much of Battles but with a more melodic touch in them and that particular essence that Lite offer.

In conclusion Phantasia is easily one of the best albums of 2008. It's addictive, energetic, melodic and very well composed with many memorable moments. If you liked Battles then you will have no problem loving this one.

Highly recommended!

What caught my attention about Lite´s PHANTASIA, firsthand, is the guitar counterpointing structures they build around basic (not simple) Rock n Roll riffs. California Guitar Trio like but eletcrified and around their own compositions. So, of course, they are not discovering fire but they play well with it.

Well tempered alike the California Guitar Trio, the sound structures move towards Rock as such. No big detours from that style. Of course I am talking about the musical structures that gave birth to Prog and other Rock related music (such as Post/Math Rock). So music wise the astonishing "kick" these guys possess is how far they take such a played-out structure without becoming an over the line studio-production project nor an imitation of an imitation. No! It is in fact quiet the opposite. These guys can create all these "magical" transfigurations by hand without the aid of any other thing but focus and unpretentious talent.

(Yes! If lucky they could be the band that turns out in your next wedding party and play this whole effort -effotlessly).

The well-attained results of course are close to Prog´s Post Rock/Math Rock, also the intention of and range of scopes, as the varied visits to the protocols of "Progland" during the trip. BUT!! Everything sounds so fresh because they are so elegantly- unpretentious!! -

Each song works out perfectly, one before and after the other. So of course is an A to Z album, no "spare" parts are included. LITE sounds like a tight well versed-enseble, each member in its own element in a "VOCAL-LESS album". ( i mean come on! All music played with instruments is "instrumental").

No big stars out-shining each other, no! Absolute team-work! The BIG thrill here is how well they hold the whole album into a "one long-hold" highly creative and focused ride without losing intensity, touch nor inventiveness.

****4 Rock solid PA stars.

PS:Also their 2014 Installations album is quiet a treat!! (No time to review it, for now.)

I can't say math Rock is one of my favourite styles of music but certainly there are exceptions. That "Discipline" album by KING CRIMSON seemed to spawn a myriad of bands seeking to do the same thing. And while impressive when done right often I'm left cold. So yes this Japanese band surprised me with this 2008 album called "Phantasia". I did not see this one coming just like in grade four when my teacher came up to me from behind and hit me on the side of the face with the book she was holding. Well done! Two guitarists, a bassist and a drummer make up this all instrumental quartet and we get some guest cello on the final track.

"Ef" is a top three. I mean how good does this sound right out of the gate. That guitar and bass especially as the drums join in. It settles to a catchy beat before 1 1/2 minutes then laid back guitar joins in. Love that bass before 2 minutes. This is just gravy before 3 minutes, so good! "Control" has a stuttering start before settling in with impressive drumming and guitars. It settles back before 2 minutes but it's heavy, then it picks back up to the end.

"Infinite Mirror" makes me dizzy just thinking about it. This is my favourite track. Fast paced intricate guitar lines as a very catchy beat with bass kicks in. I can't stop moving to this. It builds before 1 1/2 minutes to this insane groove that sounds amazing. It settles back again before kicking back in before 4 minutes. "Shinkai" has Post-Rock styled guitars to start. Drums and bass join in just before a minute and soon that's all you hear as the guitars stop. They're back quickly though. Love the bass and drums on this one. Heavy stuff before 3 1/2 minutes.

"Black And White" has such a clean and clear sound to it just like the whole album. Guitars intertwine as the bass joins in. Riffs before 2 minutes and the drums that follow impress. It settles right down after 3 minutes then builds. Excellent! "Interlude" is just that, a short 1 1/2 minute piece of mellow intricate guitar and what sounds like water. "Ghost Dance" opens with guitar as drums and a full sound kick in quickly. Check out the bass before a minute along with the guitar. Great sound here. A calm then it kicks in hard before 2 1/2 minutes.

"Solitude" starts out with static as melodic and laid back guitar plays over top. It kicks in around a minute, no static here. Again a nice clear sound and it's still laid back. Such a pleasant sound. It kicks in hard at 3 1/2 minutes then settles back a minute later before hitting us one more time like teacher. "Phantasia" has outbursts of power early on and check out that guitar. Nice. So intricate and well played as he picks and strums. Quite an impressive track overall but not a favourite.

"Fade" is my other top three. Oh yeah! A nice heavy sound here with lots of bottom end. It settles back a minute in and settles even more 2 minutes in as beautifully picked guitar leads the way as it builds until they hit us hard 3 minutes in. It settles again and this sounds incredible with those massive bass lines and that guitar. They kick back in at 4 1/2 minutes before settling back one more time. "Sequel To The Letter" ends it with intricate guitars ala "Discipline" then drums after a minute. Cello 2 1/2 minutes in provides a different flavour to this closing number.

So yes I highly recommend this album, I haven't heard anything else by them but this one blew me away.