Posted on: October 9, 2007 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Ghosts of the Past…
Most of us by now, are more than familiar with that song of 2007… the one that officially got the indie electro (disco) ball rolling in the USA and symbolized the unison between the indie pop of the past and the new wave of lo fi distorto dance of Naughties. It was the song that got Kanye West into a tizzy and the masses passionately hugging one and other on the dance floor across the globe and still to this day.

Yes, Justice V’s Simian’s “We Are Your Friends” not only paved the way for “new rave” but was also symbolic of the collective creations (from original to remix) of some of the most influential key figures in this resurgence of rock/pop and electro today. Justice as we all know, are the new Parisian dance pioneers and Simian Mobile Disco are the UK equivalent, both have paved the way on dance floors with their unique and raw rhythms across the world, causing a ruckus for music lovers and critics alike. Simian on the other hand, was the original incarnation; a brit pop band from the 90’s who
actually wrote and recorded the orginal song “We Are Your Friends”. Since splitting up the lads have reincarnated into many influential entities. James Ford (S.M.D) went on to produce albums for Klaxons and Arctic Monkeys (both Mercury Prize winning artists) and partnered up with Jas for Simian Mobile Disco. Simon Lord on the other hand, has teamed up with an equally talented force and is about to unleash a new kind of electro upon us here in the USA this Halloween.

The Present…
Anyway You Choose To Give It – Video

Lord, the voice of the aforementioned and modern “We Are Your Friends” has teamed up with Theo Keating (formerly of The Wiseguys) to create The Black Ghosts. This musical force not only as DJ’s with VOX but as a full band as well and what they offer live and on their soon to be released EP, is a collection of high energy & haunting powered electro pop, tunes to sing your heart out to and stomp your feet in the process.

“Music, to me, has to have a certain atmosphere, whether it’s about pain or happiness,” says Theo.
So if you feel your world could do with an undercurrent of intrigue – or your discotheque needs haunting – just call The Black Ghosts.

The Black Ghosts stay true to their musical roots and past. They are the perfect and credible combo with pop song sensibilities, Simon’s vocals compliment the resurrected casio tunes just perfectly, enough to keep it cool and in the realms of your Justices and S.M.Ds. Radio and dancefloor friendly, The Black Ghosts are set to do much in the same vein as Erasure and Pet Shop Boys did for electronica in the 80’s. Described as a very peculiar and particular British pop noir, their album contains the perfect amount of light and dark – enough to get you through the night or the long car journey at least.

“I suppose we’re aiming for that combination of very listenable music with rather disturbing lyrics,” says Theo. “For instance, I was originally inspired not just by modern producers like Daft Punk and Timbaland, but musicians such as Serge Gainsbourg and David Axelrod. I’d compose a backing track and Simon put lyrics to it, or vice versa.”

The Black Ghost’s ballads concern the unavoidably grim flipside of love. “The music is about how horrible people can be to other people” says Simon.“There are some terribly dark aspects of being in a relationship – it can bring out the worst in you. There’s a trauma to being in love, and I don’t mean just the control it can exert – there are the selfish expectations, and the things you’ll do to get out of relationships, plus the justifications you’ll find for that.”

Theo adds, “They’re slightly psychotic torch songs… love songs, but hardly of the ‘Baby, let’s be together’ variety. You never get that sense of blind rage that relationships can so easily produce, for example, in pop songs normally.”

The Future…

The Black Ghosts
Anyway You Choose To Give It
Release Date: October 30, 2007 (I AM SOUND)

1. Any Way You Choose To Give It
2. I Want Nothing
3. Full Moon
4. Something New

www.myspace.com/blackghosts
http://www.myspace.com/theblackghostsremixes
http://www.theblackghosts.co.uk

Any Way You Choose to Give It, the LP’s dance floor stormer, finds its protagonist in an unenviable, but familiar position – feeling randy, but racked with doubt and cynicism. “I challenge you to make the wrong move” sings Simon, outraged by the object of his lust’s supposed perfection. On Some Way Through This, The Black Ghosts become tormented by the faulty human instinct to make mutual happiness as difficult to achieve as possible. While Theo’s electronic orchestra stabs with an assassin’s grace, Simon implores the source of his frustration that he “Will do whatever it takes to put a smile upon your face” and laments that it’s only “If my hands were around your throat would you tell me what I need to know.” During It’s Your Touch, a casual cynic tries to reason out his new found love, only settling for a base, feral attraction as convincing enough stimulus. “I guess you’re wondering what I’m doing for you… And I guess that I’m wondering quite the same thing…” Simon drawls,
exasperated, as Theo’s West Coast folk-rock accompaniment exudes louche indulgence and a dangerous wistfulness.

First mix:
Harco Pront “Night”
Emperor Machine “Rimramramrim”
Clinic “The Second Line”
Soul Savers “Rumble Fish” (Simian Mix)
Supercollider “Darn Cold Way Of Loving”
Electrelane “The Valleys”
The Jonzun Crew” “Space Is The Place”
Good Books “Leni (Crystal Castles Mix)
Heaven And Earth “Feel The Spirit”
The Firebirds “Soul Sonata”
Blowfly “Sesame Street”
Silver Apples “Lovefingers”
Gianfranco Reverberi “Nel Cimitero Di Tucson”
Metronomy “Trick Or Treatz”
Milton Hamilton “My Love Supreme”
101 Strings “Karma Sitar”
Can “Vitamin C” (Ghost 1 And Ghost 4 Edit)”
Zongamin “Spiral”
Brian Eno “Sky Saw”
Frankie Valli “Beggin” (Pilooski Edit)
The Whip “Muzzle #1? (The Black Ghosts Mix)
Beck “Sexx Laws” (The Wiseguys Mix)
The Black Ghosts “Amyway You Choose To Give It” (Fake Blood Mix)
The Dykeenies “New Ideas” (The Black Ghosts Mix)

Second mix:
1. Syclops “Mom The Video Broke”
2. Beckett And Taylor “You Gotta Work”
3. Vincent Markowski “The Madness Of Moths” Vs The Black Ghosts “Repetition Kills You”
4. Lindstrom “I Feel Space” Vs The Black Ghosts “Something New”
5. Noze “Remember Love”
6. Cursor Minor “Hair Of The Dog”
7. Gossip “Listen Up (The Black Ghosts Remix)”
8. Bass-a-rani & Dexter “Boogie Chasers” Vs The Black Ghosts “Face”
9. Ear Pwr “Jack & Jill”
10. The Black Ghosts “Some Way Through This (Plastician & Skream Remix)”

US DATES
OCT 15TH –
SYNDICATE PARTY @ REBEL 11-12

OCT 17TH –
DAYTIME EVENT – BROOKLYN VEGAN SHOWCASE @ PIANOS 4 – 5:00PM
NIGHTTIME EVENT – MAGNUM PR SHOWCASE @ THE DELANCEY

OCT 18TH –
I HEART SHOWCASE @ BGs
(The Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts)
http://www.iheartnyc.com/

More CMJ Gigs TBA!

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