05/21/08
Text: Bryan Hood, Chau Tu, Nik Mercer, Justin Kielsgard
Photographers: Hatnim Lee
Anthem's Web crew has timely delivered what it promised: Part III of the Internet half of our Future Sound feature. Check out the first and second online installments, and, of course, pick up Issue #34 of the magazine to read the other half of our feature on 2008's Bands to Watch!
As usual, each page corresponds to a different group, so click through to get the full scoop. Some stories come with MP3s or mixes, so don't skip over those nuggets!
The Black Ghosts
Theo Keating AKA Touche and Simian's Simon Lord make up The Black Ghosts, the newest member of IAMSOUND's growing stable of exciting bands. But theirs isn't the empty saccharine electro-pop most people are used to; The Black Ghosts make music that's got depth and complexity to it... with a touch darkness dropped in the mix. Somehow, the tunes revel in a Gothic ambiance without becoming depressing. Imagine a refined, smoother musical version of the classic Castelvania video games music. You won't hear Keating and Lord dropping any 8-bit beats―they're weathered DJs and neo-psych rockers respectively, mind―but the fun-loving soulfulness of the arcade classic shines through in some wacky way.. Their eponymous debut will be released on July 8th. Anthem threw a few questions as Simon to get to the root of their sound and aesthetic.
It's probably a questions you guys have had to answer time and time again, but it's one that needs to be asked: when did you guys meet up and when did you form the Black Ghosts?
Simon: We first met roughly 2 years ago, it was initially all done via the Internet. We thought we'd try out a couple of songs but more and more kept on coming. After we had about six songs finished we thought it was about time to meet in person and to talk about making this into it's own thing, hence the Black Ghosts was born. In that way we never had a masterplan or concept about the band; the music came first and was just about us making tracks that excited us and trying lot's of ideas out.
Theo: I used to walk around London with a shopping bag that contained instrumentals and freeform poetry written on rubber hands. One day I just collapsed in a doorway and started wailing and gnashing my teeth. At which point Simon walked past and did an impromptu set there on the pavement after fishing some random beats out of my bag. We then decided not to meet in person again for 1 year, and did the rest of it via email.
One thing that seems to be ever present in the Black Ghost's music is this almost noir-like feel? There's something about your music that feels darker (without becoming depressing of course) than other bands. What's the reason for this?
Simon: For me there's always a darkness present, maybe it's because I want to make pop music and the darkness comes out to balance the popness... but also I just like music that has a mysterious or sinister edge to it, a hint that something else is going on. I never want to make anything with a clear message or that gives just one side to the story. So if it's a song about relationships it shows the warts as well as the roses.
Theo: Nice. I'm going to start an uber-trendy blog called Warts vs. Roses, and just post items about hardcore experimental theater and the fascism of "cool" - and then when the first person in lenseless glasses logs on, set the server on fire while reading out a list of singers and bands who only ever made one record which nobody has except ME, and moonwalking in a circle covered in pig's blood. At which point I shall attain zeitgeist absolute zero and will explode.
As I mentioned earlier your sound is very unique, one that's electronic and dance-y, but definitely cannot be merely labeled as dance or electronic music. How would you describe your sound? Is there a specific genre that you feel you belong to?
Simon: I think our sound is shaped by our respective histories and skills in music. My main thing is songwriting and vocals and i come from more of a band background, Theo comes from more of DJ and beat production background so our sound is a combination of the two.
Theo: I play every possible instrument, keyboard and synth noise over the top of Simon's vocals until there are hundreds of layers, and then gradually pick away the ones I don't want til what's left is the finished song. We did invent a genre to describe our sound, but then uninvented it straight after cos we liked the power. It was lots of letters written on top of each other rather than in a line. With the word "-core" at the end.
Electronic music seems to be getting more attention as of late―at least in America―what do you feel is the reason for this? Is this a good or bad thing?
Simon: It seems to go in cycles, for ages bands and rock music has been dominant in America and it's time for a change! Also dance music has been recently learning trick's from rock and so there's much more of a cross-over. It used to really be a case of two opposing tribes, but that has changed now. It's definitely a good thing.
Theo: Yeah the whole rock vs. dance thing is a complete non-issue, invented by cheesy editors at dance magazines. However the fact that this question keeps cropping up shows that "electronic music" is still seen as something weird or exotic - an outsider. But that term itself encompasses a huge range of music, from ambient and experimental stuff, through to the hardest Drum N' Bass or techno, and everything in between. Maybe one day people will just accept it as a normal part of music. But the fact that people are getting more into it is great. If only that would extend to the horror that is FM radio!
How does the band approach it's music videos. So far they've all been very different from one another, but they are always creative, fun, and undeniably cool. Are they representative of how you envision the songs?
Simon: The ideas for the videos aren't really connected to the songs meanings so far, but we definitely try and do something that'll be sympathetic to the songs vibe. We really enjoy being involved in all the visual sides of the album, it's important to try and put your stamp on everything, put up a united front!
Theo: We didn't want to interpret the songs too literally with the videos. We just wanted to have very strong and fun visual ideas that complemented them. B. H.
the Black Ghosts - On the Record Mix
