Phoenix offer up an enticing electro- and dance-tinged sound on their new single “Alpha Zulu,” which heralds the French group’s first new album since 2017’s. The track begins with chopped-up vocal samples before grooving to a hip-swinging beat that sounds very little like anything in Phoenix’s catalog to date.
According to a press release, Phoenix frontman Thomas Mars heard an airplane pilot repeating the titular phrase during a bumpy, storm-addled flight, and was inspired to write the song afterwards. Phoenix’s most recent new song was 2020’s “Identical,” which appeared in Mars’ wife’s Sofia Coppola’s film. For now, there’s no additional information about the new album, including whether “Alpha Zulu” will be included on it.
Phoenix begins a short European tour tonight in Nimes, France, and will hit the U.S. in the fall for appearances at Atlanta’s Music Midtown festival, the Format Festival in Bentonville, Ark., and the ACL Festival in Austin. Additional dates will be announced shortly.June 4: Paris Sept. 23-25: Bentonville, Ark.