Staff Reviews

Former Ghosts - Fleurs

Review by Noel Gardner

Fleurs will be as divisive an album as most of its creators’ past efforts. Some will find it maddeningly gauche and affected; acolytes (most likely, this will be mainly purchased by those who are already fans of one or other member) will probably be very satisfied. The writer duly reduces his position down to a mark out of ten»

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former ghosts is a new supergroup of sorts featuring xiu xiu leader jamie stewart, freddy ruppert (of the defunct this song is a mess but so am i), and nika roza of zola jesus.
inspired by the synthpop language of omd and soft cell, the band borrow the blueprints but take the music into an altogether more unhinged and eerie dimension. debut album 'fleurs' is the first release from the group and is a consistent icy hand on the shoulder of the listener. rupper's cold production and inventive songwriting make the perfect backdrop for his ian curtis-inspired vocalisations alongside nika's unique spooked-out vocal. jamie stewart, also heavily involved in the programming and synth parts on the album, contributes his own unmistakable voice to many of the tracks. songs whistle, bleep and click with broken beats amongst the deep folds of synthesizer melody waiting for the secrets to be shared. 'fleurs' is an album as realistic as it is claustrophobic, the personal has never been so close at hand and melodrama just doesn't measure to up to describing its shape. on upset the rhythm.
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