8/10

Since the release of their heavily-lauded debut album 'Eyelid Movies' just over a decade ago, Phantogram have been on a somewhat rocky road ever since. Their 2014 sophomore record 'Voices' was met with a more mixed affair from critics, and the death of frontwoman Sarah Barthel's sister complicated the recording of their third album 'Three' in 2016. But after a few years to find themselves and revert into becoming a more tightly-knit pairing, the band have now returned with their fourth full-length 'Ceremony', a release that sees them go back to the strong and confident guise of their earliest years.

Phantogram have always looked to adopt a multifaceted direction into their sound, but it feels that this time around, they have created a diverse and eclectic style that works so fluidly together. With each track, the duo marinade their production in a rich and emboldened feel that gives this new collection a fresh and yet distinctive feel that separates them from almost everything else on the scene right now. There is this bright and euphoric sonic appeal running throughout their latest album, and it manages to give each song its own luxurious and soaring aesthetic that we rarely see.

It may have been a long time coming but Phantogram have shown that truly good things come to those who wait as this record brings them right back to their initial beginnings. A release full of fascinating and intriguing compositions that never seem to falter and sews a vibrant tapestry of colourful concepts throughout.