Heavily influenced by the dreamy songwriting of the Verve and the exploratory approach of Spiritualized, Washington D.C.'s Phaser are in contrast to the indie pop and hardcore that the city is known for. Releasing their first record (Skydive) in the summer of 2000, the band won several high profile gigs including opening slots for Gomez, Super Furry Animals, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Writing through the following months, an EP (Sway) led to Emperor Norton signing the band in the summer of 2002. Starting with an EP, Life and Illusion/Sway introduced a national audience to their sound while Phaser started work on their first album for the label. ~ Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide
