It’s been more than five years since Phuz last dropped their mellow electronica on Houston listeners and much has happened in music since that time. Interestingly, the majority of bands that Phuz emulates (Portishead, for instance) also haven’t released anything of substance in many years. Whether the slow, melodic trip-hop genre is dead is for fans to decide but Phuz seem intent on bringing it back to the general public’s attention. With their new four-track EP, the band — singer Dea, Edwin Casapao, Ken Sarmiento, and Edward Casapao — return with songs of sonic precision and moody atmospherics. “Say To You” is a catchy track that pulses with a funked-up bassline and a danceable groove. Dea’s sultry vocals attract the listener’s attention, but it’s the band’s music — the low-key beats and competent fills, laid-back keyboards, and fuzzy guitars (especially in the excellent “Ceiling”) — that keep it. — David A. Cobb

Phuz releases Forgiveness on their MySpace page today. Go check it out.