The Black Ghosts reviewed

The Black Ghosts
The Black Ghosts
(Iamsound)

Judging from Simian Mobile Disco’s debut, it seemed likely the split occurred on artistic grounds: Jameses Ford and Shaw wanted to go pop, while Simon Lord and Alex MacNougthon preferred the experimental angle. Judging from The Black Ghosts, Lord should be in SMD.

Appearing: Thursday, July 24th at Smart Bar in Chicago.

Not to discount Theo Keating, whose beat assembly assures constant movement on this self-titled debut, but the album draws teasing parallels with Lords’ former mates, though slightly less intense. Before the break, Lord was where Icelandic popsters Gus Gus dabbled a decade ago: an ambivalence between art-school convention breaking and George Michael timbre and pride-parade lightness. Black Ghosts convincingly argues for the latter. “Repetition Kills You” (featuring Damon Albarn) delights in disproving its chorus and opener “Some Way Through This” hijacks what could’ve been a 50 Cent banger for a “James Bond” anthem test run. Tracks like “I Don’t Know” wander too easily into ’80s revival and ideas are at a premium by the end. But if MacNoughton reappears with something equally bouncy, feel free to flame all four Simians for abandoning a good thing.

– Steve Forstneger

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