Album Review

Neil Starr And Gavin Butler – Ghosts And Echoes

• 8th Apr 2012

There is something humbling about Ghosts And Echoes, the split release by Neil Starr and Gavin Butler. Both have found success in their own musical endeavours, Neil with his bands Attack! Attack! and Dopamine, while Gavin is best known for his antics with The Blackout. Regardless of this, the two guys decided to get together and record this 10 track album in a friends recording studio, both contributing 5 solo tracks which had never been recorded before.

Starr kicks off the record with his contribution of tracks to the ‘Ghosts’ half of the record, the first being “Goodbye”. His distinctive voice not being heard since Attack! Attack! released The Latest Fashion back in 2010, it is a welcoming sounds as sings softly over the acoustic guitar play melodically underneath.

Off the bat, we can see that Starr’s tracks are going to bear similarities to what we’ve heard from him before. This is only a good thing. His second offering, and arguably the best song he offers, is “Whisper In The Dark”. The song, as with “Goodbye”, starts off slowly and softly. But gently builds from simple ballad to an incredibly powerful song as Starr tragically exclaims “The more I feel, the less you show / So I’m not giving anymore”, before he asks the recipient of his feelings to “Hear me calling out” over and over.

While “Summer Song” brings some uplifting moods, both lyrically and musically, “Alive” and “Another Life” have an altogether darker tone. While “Alive” is about losing someone and a part of one’s self, “Another Life” is a harrowing song of changing lives. One of the songs the guys allowed as a free download in the lead up to the release of Ghosts And Echoes, “Another Life” is one of the most powerful songs on the record, with its simplistic yet effective guitar throughout carrying heavy handed lyrics as Starr wears his heart on his sleeve.

There is a clear cut change when it comes to Butler’s offerings, showcasing the vast difference in styles between the 2 artists. “Into The Sea” is the first of Butler’s five songs, and is very different from anything we’ve heard from him. With The Blackout, we hear Butler sing in a post-hardcore band. So, to hear him perform on an acoustic album is not only a change, but a welcome one. Being able to show such diversity in musical endeavours is something rarely seen, and rarely is it done quite this well.

“Into The Sea” brings a more energetic emphasis than what we’ve heard so far, which is true for all of Butler’s songs. It brings this higher tempo, which is kept up during the next track. “Dirty Little Lies” starts off quite short, with Butler quietly singing over a strumming guitar, only for the band to join him during the first chorus. The song, as you’d expect, is about trust and losing it. “I need to believe I can see every seam / to all the stories that you weave / and know exactly where to cut” he sings after the first chorus, calling out the liar, before thrusting back into the final act of the track.

“Hey Girl” is a much softer song. As the title would suggest, it is something of a love song, or a love letter. With lines like “dreaming means that I can hold you” and “I know there will be / a lot more of you and me” showcase his feelings towards whomever this letter is addressed. It is this heart on you r sleeve quality, also shown in Starr’s tracks, that sets Butler apart from other songwriters who try to do this, but just cannot manage.

While “Every Day” keeps the momentum of “Hey Girl”, it is “Sunshine” which takes Ghosts And Echoes to a close. This, also previously released, gives listeners an exact expectation. This is the quality of song to be that you will hear throughout this record. And what I humbling about Ghosts And Echoes is that, where there are record companies throwing money at various bands to release the next chart topping album, here we have two guys recording an album in a friends recording studio. Funding everything themselves, doing it for the sheer thrill and fun. And, as a result, the end product is something truly enjoyable. At such a limited release, try your best to get a copy.

Tracklist:
Goodbye
Whisper In The Dark
Summer Song
Alive
Another Life
Into The Sea
Dirty Little Lies
Hey Girl
Every Day
Sunshine

Download: Whisper In The Dark, Dirty Little Lies, Another Life

You can catch the guys on their Ghosts and Echoes Tour, dates are as follows:
11th April – Bristol, Croft
12th April – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
14th April – Swansea, Koopa’s
15th April – London, Barfly
19th April – Manchester, Alter Ego
20th April – Birmingham, HMV Inst.
21st April – Guildford, Boileroom
22nd April – Southampton, Joiners

You can get tickets at HMV Tickets [link] and Ticket Web [link]