Album Review

The Ghosts – Ghosts

• 5th Apr 2012

New single Ghosts comes from The Ghosts’ forthcoming debut album The End, which will be released later on this month. Its mix of powerful synthesiser rhythms and the haunting vocals of Alex Starling (formerly of Ou Est Le Swimming Pool) results in a pleasing track that manages to be both dark and ultimately upbeat at the same time.

Starting with a synth melody that could be straight out of any number of eighties bands’ back catalogue the track is then driven forward by the keyboards as the vocals join in to give a dynamic electro-pop sound. Starling’s vocals portray the angst of the song nicely and the swirling electronic sounds that back him give a moody air to the track.

The Ghosts referred to in the title are the memories of a past relationship that the singer is trying to move on from but the past is “teasing, frustrating me with taunts of my inertia”. The anthemic chorus almost sneaks up on you as he looks for a way ahead, a light in the darkness. Yet the song finishes positively with the last line, “I hope the Ghosts that come keep you happy!” Could that also refer to the band itself?

The CD version of the single also contains three remixes of Ghosts. The Seamus Hagi Remix adds a few more electronic effects and an eerie backing vocal while the Millions Like Us Remix uses distorted vocals and a driving beat. The Ad Brown Remix, perhaps the best of the three speeds the track up a little more, but also adds in bursts of bass that add to the atmospheric effect.