Falsetto pitch, it would appear, is much en vogue, with a mass of artists coming through all reaching for pant-splitting heights. If you like your vocals high, then the debut single from new London synth-pop outfit The Ghosts should be just the ticket.
Produced by Tim Bran (The Charlatans, La Roux), Enough Time is an enticing foretaste of what to expect on their first album The End (set for April 2012 release). Formed at the end of 2010 by Alex Starling, formerly the secret fourth member of Ou Est le Swimming Pool, with drummer Ian Palmer (to be later joined by Rayna Ferner and Alex Sharman on keys, plus Dan Whiffin, guitar), after OELSPs vocalist Charles Haddon took his own life at Belgiums Pukkelpop festival that August. A low time for not just Starling, but seemingly Palmer too, so following on from an introduction by The Charlatans Jon Brookes, the two began to work together and duly The Ghosts began to take shape. Perhaps in part as a catharsis to get over "the painful loss of family members and close friends, near-death experiences and failed relationships".
Whether or not The End is therefore likely to be mired in deep longings, regret and well, a bit of a handkerchief job, we wait to see. But on Enough Time, Starling, the man behind the vocals and the darkly sweet and seductive lyrics (love was there to tease us/in the loneliest of times), allows both to be given free reign as they ride across layers of pounding drum beats, luxuriant guitar chords and an arrangement that swells on its big chorus; part Empire Of The Sun, part MGMT. Starlings vocal style may be something of an acquired taste, but blends in a rather disarming and hypnotic way, so that the more you listen to it the more you find yourself warming to it. The promo video (which you can find on You Tube), directed by Alex Kyrou, takes on an equally compelling visual stance. Drenched in imagery in an other worldly way, and something of a fantasy-rich mind puzzler: a couple, seen held captive as it opens, then manage to affect an escape by means of a magic picture frame. We then get masked men, a seashore andwell, watch it and see.
The Ghosts are already starting to be talked about. Expect to have the name haunting you everywhere next year.