published: 19 /
11 /
2017
Label:
Heist or Hit Records
Format: CD
Energetic and diverse eponymous fourth album from disco-influenced Swedish alternative rock act Simian Ghost
Review
Well, I never expected this. After sticking Simian Ghost's eponymous LP into my CD player, I didn't expect such a funky sound to come easing out of the speakers in my front room.
Simian Ghost are an alternative music act from Sandvviken/Gävle in Sweden, consisting of Sebastian Arnström, Erik Klinga, Mathias Zachrisson and Wilhelm Magnusson. Sebastian Arnström had already released one full-length album, 'Infinite Traffic Everywhere', which was received with blog praise and excellent reviews and topped the critics' chart in Sweden.As a collective the band have shared stages with the acts such as Mount Kimbie, SBTRKT, Niki & The Dove and Active Child since their inception in 2011. They released their second full-length album, which was written by all four members of the band and entitled 'Youth' in early 2012. It met with great reviews, 'The Guardian' calling it "an early contender for the album of the year." Later on that year they appeared on a live session with Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 2 and also on Laverne's show on BBC 6Music. The band's third album 'The Veil' was released in 2014 and in late 2015 they band started work on this, their eponymous fourth album made in collaboration with Thomas Hedlund of the band Phoenix and Umeå based producer Henrik Oja.
This album showcases the funky, dance laden side of Simian Ghost and has already spawned three singles, 'Last Night', 'When You're Ready' and 'Fun', which puts them firmly in the Euro-disco market, Vocally it is a bit on the sweet side for me. It's been described as "genre-hopping" which is a fair comment because I can't pigeon hole this at all. The music is, however, so free it deserves to be unlabeled and has very much a sound of its own. It reminds me of late 70's Yellow Dog, but with a slice of calypso in places and which is firmly aimed at the disco/Eurofunk dancefloors. The band have said that it feels like their debut over again. And so it should. Let's hope they find their way to bigger things.
Track Listing:-
1
Fun
2
When You're Ready
3
Eat the Rich
4
Passenger
5
Last Night
6
Money
7
Shadow
8
Éphémère
9
Stop Moving
10
Sheet Music
11
Lose It
12
Climb the Walls
Band Links:-
http://www.simianghost.com/
https://www.facebook.com/simianghost
https://twitter.com/simianghost
http://www.last.fm/music/Simian+Ghost
Label Links:-
https://www.youtube.com/user/HeistOrHi
https://twitter.com/heistorhit
http://www.last.fm/label/Heist+Or+Hit+
https://www.facebook.com/heistorhitrec
http://www.heistorhitrecords.com/