That Ghost – Song Out Here
Two Syllable Records are, somewhat under the radar, building a really good back catalogue, with releases by bands like Inlets, Candy Claws and, my favourite, That Ghost.
I’ve reviewed Ryan Schmale’s work on this site before, with pretty considerable enthusiasm, and this review isn’t going to be much different.
I’ll agree with the label’s own blurb that this album is more sombre and introspective than what has come before from Schmale. I think I’ll add that there’s a touch less of a rough edge to it as well. It still sounds really lo-fi, but there’s definitely something of a more welcoming feel to it than I might have imagined before – it’s even kind of mellifluous at time, which really shocked me.
You know when you speak to someone really introverted and shy and sometimes that shyness causes them to snap at you, and you don’t really know where the hostility has come from? Well I think there was a bit of that about the earlier That Ghost records, whereas this, for all it retains a lot of the shyness and introspection, seems to have turned it inward as if it no longer blames you for its feeling of isolation.
In some senses I suppose Song Out Here could do with a little of that bite back. A bit of that attitude, perhaps. I am not going to whinge too much though, because I am really enjoying this album, just that around half or two-thirds of the way through, once the different sound has been established and allowed to settle, it might have been nice to just give things a little shake, to break the spell.
Nevertheless, this whole album has the feel of being in a cosy cabin in the mountains (I blame fucking Bon Iver for this image popping into my head) where all might not be well, but is nevertheless under control. There is still the feeling of isolation, still a grey sky, but it is one that is being regarded from the relative comfort of indoors.
That Ghost – To Like You
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That Ghost – The Older Removed by request

Rough and raw? On Song, by Toad? Never! And bloody hell this is rough. I reviewed Ryan Schmale’s previous release late last year, but is rather definitely a different beast. There remain almost none of the glowering, atmospheric songs of this record’s immediate predecessor, and in their place a near-unrelenting cloud of angrily sneering guitars.

