Phobophobes - Modern Medicine

First kicking around in the delightfully ‘orrible mid-’10s South London scene that gave birth to the Fat White Family, Phobophobes’ journey has been a more tumultuous one, taking in personal tragedy and industry setbacks. It goes some way to explaining why, as their original peers have continuously ascended into influential scene-leaders, their star has been a distinctly slower burn - a shame since, as second LP ‘Modern Medicine’ shows, there’s much to love about their particularly nightmarish carnival. Whether in the brooding prowl of ‘Hollow Body Boy’, or the falsetto group chants and wonky wurlitzer of ‘Blind Muscle’, the worlds the ‘Phobes create here are disorientating ones full of gothic characters and woozy sonics. ‘Negative Space’’s sonorous baritone nods to Iggy Pop, while ‘Lick The Lid’ is like The Cramps down the disco. If you could essentially play ‘The Box’’s wind-whips and footprints as an immersive, terrifying Halloween experience, then title track ‘Modern Medicine’ is, conversely, a pretty damn catchy affair and ‘Muscle Memory’ - replete with slow, sad strings - acts as the album’s introspective torch song. More than just also-rans, Phobophobes deserve their own time in the sun.