Brother/Ghost are a four-piece band from Austin, Texas and are the latest in a long line of excellent signings by the shelsmusic label. It is difficult to pin a label on them, but experimental-ambient-post-shoegaze would be pretty close to the mark.
"Black Ice" (the song and the album) opens with an almost gospel-style track, with handclaps underneath choral vocals which repeat a refrain of: "We've been drinking the water you've been poisoning; We drank ourselves half to death but now we're listening". What you might call an interesting start.
"Waal" begins with a quiet melody, laced with xylophone and almost whispered vocals. There is a distinctly "post-rock" air about proceedings, as the delicate tune the ROCKS in the middle before going quiet again. It is the kind of dynamic that Mogwai would be proud of. It all then ends with squalling guitars and impassioned, almost screamed vocals.
The third track "Touch Something and Say Dead" is yet another change of pace and tone. More electronic but with layers of violin, it builds with machinegun drums and squalling guitars.
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The centre-piece of the release is the two-part "Baby Sharks". "Baby Sharks Pt.1" is another quiet start, but the long organ tones, and gentle drums and vocals almost give an air of impending doom. The song gains momentum, but is held back, increasing the anticipation for some kind of crescendo. There is certainly a feeling that something is coming... and it does with "Baby Sharks Pt.2" which is the most pummeling section of the album.
The album ends as it starts, with "Black Ice Reprise" politely leading the listener to the exit.
Although it is lazy to compare bands, this will appeal to fans of Mogwai, Sigur Ros and Envy. This is a very good release, and shows a band willing to push themselves creatively. There is great promise here, and you can do yourselves a favour by buying this.
www.shelsmusic.com
myspace.com/brotherghostband
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