Nashville – As eerie as its eponymous moniker, Ghost Culture’s recent debut (via Phantasy) delivers a delightfully unpredictable catalog of work. Though customarily infused with a hint of Detroit techno and all of the familiar trappings of contemporary electronica, Ghost Culture still manages to unabashedly rise above these labels with a series of songs that flow into each other effortlessly, weightless like a feather. With the New Year still ringing fresh in our ears, Ghost Culture manages to force us fully into the present and cast away any last-year nostalgia by starting out 2015 on such a high note.
Like most beginnings, Ghost Culture’s inception was humble. The artist states that he started out with nothing more than a synthesizer and a sequencer set up in his crowded bedroom. What began as simple self-expression and a need to release pent-up feelings ended up as a set of songs with a clear purpose—compressed by little time and little resources. But Ghost Culture claims that this wasn’t a hindrance, and instead used this push as a tool to make his work better. By harnessing this bare-bones way of making music, he was able to cultivate a solid vision and move forward with a clear mind. Subsequently, he found a welcome home and good company in the Phantasy label.
This sense of immediacy is apparent in his most recent work—no frills, just feeling. The music doesn’t pressure or push, but instead creeps along with a measured, careful advance. Calling it ghostly is far too obvious, but when listening to “Giudecca,” one does get the feeling that there’s a tissue-thin, delicate presence driving the beat. Subtlety is an art form, and Ghost Culture has certainly mastered it. While some vaporwave singles remain weighed down by syrupy loops and heavy processing, “Giudecca” flaunts a finely woven balance that is brilliant in its defiance.
Just like its creator—known for keeping his true identity shrouded in mystery—Ghost Culture remains utterly ethereal amidst an unstoppable series of undulating synth. At times, it sounds as soothing as a lullaby. And yet, it manages to simultaneously march on, fully awake as it slowly ascends with the help of a punchy backbone. This is perfectly captured in “Arms,” with vocals that subtly and unnoticeably pick up the tempo as various pops and beats lead the way.
Ghost Culture has given us something that is silky, delicate, and dreamlike—something not entirely physical, and yet something grounded in a certain familiarity. To say that I can’t quite put my finger on it only serves to underline the unique talent this artist possesses. All in all, this album is a triumphant revival of Detroit techno and an entirely unique piece of work that will catapult Ghost Culture into yet another other-earthly atmosphere. However, it’s hard to predict what will come next for the artist, considering his work is based in a practiced unpredictability. But that just means we’ll have to keep a close watch on his next move, although that might spoil some of the fun.
Following the release of Ghost Culture, Ghost Culture will tour the UK and elsewhere in Europe. Keep up with him via Facebook.
Photo by Nastasia Alberti
Amaryllis Lyle
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