Lifeboat Candidate
Ice Queen, 2021
9/10
Seeming much more like an outfit from Manchester in 1985 than a current band residing in Nashville, Palm Ghosts sound like a cinematic version of your favorite New Wave, post-punk and shoegaze legends, and this pandemic record is as topical as it is exciting.
“Blind” starts the listen with thick bass lines as energetic drumming, bouts of synth and deep vocals that recruit an ‘80s New Wave/post-punk appeal hint at even greater things to come, and “Easy Math” follows with a dynamic display of dream-pop, where hypnotic guitar work and a precise rhythm section make a hell of an impression.
There’s just 8 tracks here, and each one is top notch, including the nostalgic ideas of “Revelation Engines”, which could soundtrack a late night at the roller rink, while “Carry The World” enters darker territory as the band channel their inner Joy Division, where grit and melody meet at a very enthralling intersection.
The last 2 tracks bring us “The Perfect Tool” and “The Dead Inside”, where the former is textured with both an ominous and creative quality that’s certainly goth friendly, and the latter buzzes like a New Order song you can’t wait to hear again and again.
If you grew up on The Cure and The Smiths and names like David Bowie and Siouxsie inhabit your record collection, Palm Ghosts will be your new heroes, and be prepared to spend much quality time with Lifeboat Candidate.
Travels well with: The Psychedelic Furs- Made Of Rain; The Persian Leaps- Electrical Living