Phon - Cat Zen Jamma


Phon have been going for less than a year, but the future looks bright for the Worcester trio, based on the strength of their debut EP. Their live shows are energetic, pretty sweaty in my own experience, and risk moderate short-term hearing loss - but are very good. They bring the sounds of the alternative rock greats of the 90s in with a stoned-out, hardcore-infused context - meaning that the likes of Sonic Youth and the Melvins are just as sonically important to Phon as Nirvana or Soundgarden. 

Cat Zen Jamma bursts with jaunty basslines, pounding drums and catchy vocal hooks throughout its runtime, which feels all too short by the time it's over. I'm particularly keen on the bass guitar riffs over 'Julia Roberts (Stars In Eat Pray Love)' or 'Fade', which use open strings in conjunction with frets high up the neck to create quite a specific sound, locking in really well with the laid-back drum grooves. At times, the guitar seems to act as a second bass - with the dirty main riff of 'Broken Bong' rumbling away with incredible power, for one.


Phon - Delete Your Dick Pics & Wipe Your Ass (live Feb 2022)

Phon's mix of grunge and stoner rock is the most prominent part of their bass-heavy sound, but the pure mayhem of 'Delete Your Dick Pics & Wipe Your Ass' proves evident that they're not afraid to bring the dirtiness and heaviness. You can't deny the gritty, angsty punk aesthetic lurking in the band - when the vocals don't charm you with a distorted croon, with flavourings of Mike Kerr and Matt Bellamy, you're subjected to a larynx-shredding scream. Both of these elements are needed to understand what Phon are about.

You get the impression that all three musicians understand their style completely, all playing with some restraint, but never without character, to produce an EP that proudly wears its influences on its sleeve. The grooves make you move, the riffs slay, the vocal parts stay in your head. Smashed it.

It's great to be able to listen to these four tracks on my phone now when I'm out and about, but it just doesn't feel like enough for the time being. More soon please!

Favourite song: Fade

8/10

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MN

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