Llorenç Rosselló Verger hails from the Balearic Islands in Spain, not one of the most well-known hotbeds of talent yet the most unusual environments can often yield unique delights. There's certainly not many acts who compare easily to Poomse but one band on the same wavelength might be New York's Liars, thanks to an off-kilter approach to song arrangements, mysterious atmospheres and the mash-up of musical styles.
'Ordem E Progresso' uses a jazz rhythm and along with Llorenc's own vocals (which sound like they might be from someone in their 50s), they lend the track an old-fashioned feel that's swiftly countered of course by an assortment of electronic arrangements. It's a formula that's repeated throughout. 'The Third Check' - one of the most straightforward songs - features a fine woozy melody and Verger's lugubrious - almost sleepy - approach to tune-making reaches its peak on the forlorn, shifting soundscapes on 'Picciotto' and again when the crazed mid-section of 'The Pyrenees' and 'Dillanesca' drifts into a fragile denouement. After that the album loses a little momentum and passes by a little too quickly. Make no mistake though, 'The Phantom Hand Theory' is a queasy, often challenging listen but above all it's inventive and often riveting.