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Because Of Ghosts - No More Reason, No More Doubt
Saturday, March 31st, 2007
I bought this CD just about half an hour ago at the show they just played, I’m so glad I finally caught this band live. What I have sitting in my hands here is a re-issue of an old album, ‘Selected Recordings 2002-2004′.
I’ve had their other album - The Tomorrow We Were Promised Yesterday - in my CD player for longer than I can remember. I completely didn’t realise this band was one I listen to more than any other (proof thanks to last.fm).
To be perfectly honest I haven’t reviewed The Tomorrow We Were Promised Yesterday on here yet because I was scared to. I’m not sure how you approach an album like that. I didn’t want to write anything about it because I’m not sure I could. It’s just there, it’s just… good. I’ll get there eventually.
So, I’ll stick to No More Reason, No More Doubt and their live show for this if I can.
First off, I’m a massive fan of three piece bands. I love watching three people trying to make more noise than you’d expect from that amount of instruments and voices. Because Of Ghosts do this without singing! It’s a strange soundtrack to a movie I’d love to see but doubt will ever be made. There is something ethereal about the sound these guys make, it hints at something beyond the periphery you can catch only when you’re not expecting to see it.
It was great to see that a lot of the extra noisey bits and extra guitar is done live with a loop pedal thingy, quite cleverly I might add. Reuben is a joy to watch, his playing is unmistakably passionate and intelligent. Jacob somehow seems to hit more bits of his (satisfyingly simple) drumkit at once than you’d expect possible for only 4 limbs.
I really hate to compartmentalise this band, but in a way they are archetypal of a certain ‘Melbourne’ sound. Not pretentious art-rock, but not boring and standardised, experimental but cohesive. Indie-fuck without the annoying indie-fuckness. It all feels like it’s off the cuff, organic, building and building like something a slightly frenetic Sigur Ros or Mowgai fan would lap up… but at the same time it almost seems they’re waltzing through the motions of a classical standard with each song. Perhaps it’s something about the interesting voicings, heavy with off-kilter leading notes and carefully organised resolutions that lend it that quality. I’d be quite surprised if at least one of the guys didn’t learn some kinda classical instrument as a kid.
An interview will hopefully be up soon - for now it’s time for another cup of tea. This is undoubtably one of the best things Melbourne has to offer at the moment, really do check them out.
(Oh, also Reuben had the ‘Just Shy’ xkcd t-shirt on during this show. That’s just lovely as far as I’m concerned.)
Please note individual items are the those of the autor, not Pith Records. Don't blame us.
This entry hereby entered into our archives by Will at the hour of 1:42 am
on this very Saturday, March 31st, our year of 2007.
Duly filed under Album Reviews, Live Reviews, in accordance with standard practices.
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