Single Review

Ginger And The Ghost – Call Up The Whales EP

• 14th Jul 2014

Australian folk-pop duo Ginger And The Ghost have built up quite a following in the US as well as at home in Sydney. This is their first UK release and the four tracks give a very good introduction to a duo with a unique take on music.

Starting out as visual artists, Missy and Daniel decided to move into music, and have adopted an unusual approach to recording. Their studio is a converted cement water tank in the northern New South Wales outback, and they use everything from body percussion to bicycle wheels to create sound. I’m sure there is a didgeridoo in there somewhere too …

The EP’s title track Call Up The Whales is a gentle and soothing song, Missy’s ethereal vocals immediately bringing Bjork to mind. Change of pace is used well in a fine track that rises and falls several times – it feels like there are several distinct parts to this four minute track. There is so much going on that it could almost be a sampler for something much bigger.

The Mark Of Hearts and Throwing Arrows are both slightly faster in tempo yet still gentle. The often fragile vocals sit over some fine acoustic guitar work – but occasionally Missy demonstrates that she has strength to her voice when it is needed. And the closing Teenage Flower comes a little nearer to being a folk song, but still has that very individual vocal style and some great harmonies to end the release on a high point.

Ginger And The Ghost have a sound that is all their own. It evokes a mystical and very visual response, and their videos are well worth a look too. They are clearly a very talented duo who do things their own way – and in a time of far too much manufactured music that can only be a good thing.

Venue: Call Up The Whales EP
Support Band: Rabble Records