Hailing from Miami, by way of Lima is the seminal alternative act, known as Mold!. Their new single, “I Can See The Ghost,” was my first exposure to the band. As a result, I can now say that Mold! Is the type of group you instantly want to hear more of and know more about. The Peru connection is attributed to the band’s founder, Carlo Barbacci. Barbacci cites his immigration to the states as a major source of inspiration for the band’s music.
“I Can See The Ghost,” somehow manages to be busy and meandering, at the same time. It almost feels like you’ve joined the song in progress. The track is culled from the band’s upcoming album, No Silence. To this point, the only official release from Mold!, is a 3 song EP. Having only formed in 2019, the band is quite new to the scene, so to speak.
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/___mold___/?hl=en
Mold! shows a great deal of artistry and personality on “I Can See The Ghost.” It’s not a particularly dynamic piece, as they stick with the same frenzied tempo from the top, but Barbacci’s vocals do provide emotional dexterity. This is the type of track that is deceptively compact, hidden behind an apathetic front. You can almost hear a little Bloc Party, sans the romantic underbelly. Even though the track runs a little over 4 minutes, it does leave you wanting more, once your ears get past the initial blur.
Barbacci collaborated with Ryan Haft on the production of “I Can See The Ghost.” The track has strong audio quality, but doesn’t sacrifice the indie minimalism that is integral for bands like Mold!. “I Can See The Ghost,” was recorded at The Bull Recording Studio in Miami, and was mastered by Dave Cooley of Tame Impala fame. It’s apparent that Carlo Barbacci takes a very hands on approach to the creative direction of Mold!. He certainly seems to marry a youthful angst with a penchant for melody and presentation.
The music video for “I Can See The Ghost” is an entirely different story, at least in the context of its content. The video is presented entirely in animation, and features some truly remarkable work in that regard. Bruno Degradi and Tomas Del Sado were the creators of the video, and their vision is an explicit head trip. The visuals include a very nude woman, a demonic cat, and other assorted settings and characters. The video for “I Can See The Ghost,” will be burned into your mind, after the initial viewing, and quite frankly, it might be against your will. What is certain, is that Degradi and Del Sado have created an unflinching and jaw dropping piece of art for Mold!. The combination of all these extremely talented artists has resulted in something that has a detached sense of urgency, even if it’s not always easy to look at.
Kim Muncie