Phobophobes

Phobophobes are a London band based that works at the intersection of post-punk, goth, and no wave for the most part. They are specifically from the same Brixton area that also gave us Goat Girl, Shame, Fat White Family, and Meatraffle in the last few years. Relative to that crop of bands, their music tends to be more on the somber side, as led by the baritone of Jamie Taylor. The songs are not necessarily joyless, but even the more upbeat, dancey songs are wrapped in gray clouds (see The Negative Space). Dark and tense as their overall sound may be, the band puts together solid hooks, and they find a good balance between the scuzzy guitars and the brighter tones of the classic Wurlitzer keyboard sound. Plus, the rhythm section also keeps things light with clear and bouncy beats.