Liverpool-based producer GhostChant releases his debut single, Getintothis’ Mike Townsend finds a producer deconstructing the sound of the entire world coming crashing down.
London come Liverpool producer GhostChant has quietly been making moves this year.
With acclaimed opening slots for xxxy, Paleman and Dirty Beaches and a deal with BBE Records (Barely Breaking Even) alongside the likes of Giles Peterson and you guessed it; DJ Jazzy Jeff, GhostChant is fast-becoming one of the names to watch in Liverpool’s rejuvenated electronica melting pot.
New single Laid To Rest is the first cut from his unnamed debut album due early next year, and comes alongside two remixes from Birmingham’s BangaTang and Tru Thoughts alumni Chimpo.
Sharp, high-pitched stabs tip-toe impishly around a rolling metal on metal drum & bass beat and unsettling vinyl static.
Textures build slowly as aesthetics are tentatively introduced around an affected, steady vocal loop, before we are taken into a blockbuster climax of sweeping synths and cinematic bombast, flooded with top-heavy string passages as a disturbed cry wails from some far off, distant corner.
Cornwell’s skill is in creating textures that are evocative and grandiose without falling into the verbose. Like much of his recorded output to date, Laid To Rest forms this vast, expansive backdrop without losing control of its boundaries; using the intrinsic rhythmic qualities of the recurring, ‘You don’t know the way‘ vocal loop to anchor the song, as if it’s the last remaining structure of a world that is crashing down.
GhostChant performs live at Shipping Forecast on October 31, for tickets and info visit here.
Further reading on Getintothis
GhostChant performs at the GIT Award 2012 at Leaf, Liverpool.
Liverpool Sound City 2013: Darkstar, Sun Glitters, GhostChant at Brooklyn Mixer, Kazimier Gardens.
Dirty Beaches, GhostChant: The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool.
ARK02: Lunar Modular, Afternaut, Bantam Lions, GhostChant, Acrobat, Kepla, JULIAN: Drop the Dumbells, Liverpool.
