The fifth album from the funk friendly and long running trio Soulganic, Phosphene finds Charlotte, North Carolina musicians Cory McClure, Ryan McKeithan and Anthony Rodriguez bringing us eight new and original tracks that remind us of Thee Sacred Souls, Lianne La Havas, Black Pumas or even Lenny Kravitz. Thematically, it surrounds the notion of the unseen, the unheard and the unknown, as the album title describes a phenomenon where light is perceived sans visual stimulus. 
“Family Ties” gets the party started with guest Stan Odell Graham’s animated trumpet that suits Rodriguez's playful bass and McClure’s dynamic drumming that’s quite rich. “Long Way Home” then follows with warm melodies, soulful singing and McKeithan’s cozy guitar, which tugs on the heartstrings.
Things steer deeper into rock territory with the dense “Waiting,” where buzzing guitar and thumping drums are met with powerful vocals, while Side A finishes with the intimate and eloquent mood of “Bear That Weight.”
The second half of Phosphene leads with “Pulling Me (Pushing Me),” where a distinct dreaminess enters the scrappy rhythm section and Rodriquez’s smooth pipes, but it’s the meticulous instrumental “Scotland Yard” that illustrates the trio’s tremendous interaction via the swirling climate and raw energy.
The best track on the album arrives late, as the title track recruits Tony McCullough’s strategic sax amid the careful landscape of soulful beauty, and “Yours” exits with a romantic spirit that’s poetic, articulate and stirring.
In addition to the above mentioned, Matt Ciella’s trumpet, Joakim Toftgaard’s trombone, JaMichael’s flute and Curt Keyz’s Wurlitzer, Hammond B3 and Moog are also included in sparing but effective amounts. Together, with the trio’s strengths and collaborative singing, it makes for an excellent funk/soul/indie/jazz/R&B/psychedelic hybrid that’s not short on rhythm, beats, and bouts of progressive and fusion that few others could create.