Breakup-Party - Ghosts

Breakup-Party

​Ghosts
self-released; 2017

​4.0 out of 5

By Mia Romani

Breakup-Party’s album Ghosts is a masterfully arranged and recorded album. The album kicks off with the track “War,” which is soothing and almost eerie in it’s tone both lyrically and melodically. The album’s second track “No Dance” kicks up the mood of the album with heavy and intense vocals from Christian Ehrich along with a substantial drum beat and biting guitar riffs. Ghosts was completely DIY recorded and mixed with Reaper on linux. One would not realize that if they had not been told. The sound quality is excellent and the entire album is skillfully mastered.

“Not Deaf,” the third track on Ghosts is grungy in style, and romantically haunting lyrically and vocally. “Money for the People,” also a grungy track, picks up in pace in comparison to “Not Deaf.” “Money for the People” is a self-confident breakup track, proudly yelling out I don’t need your lovin’ anymore.

“Economy” is a difficult to read into love ballad about consumerism: “the economy needs you and needs to be supported / we loved you like we could / and you loved us back like you should.” The over five-and-a-half-minute track is tough to follow in the story that it’s telling, but it is vocally and instrumentally pleasing.

“Everything,” the second to last track on Ghosts is a slower dive into this grungy, almost emo album. With distorted vocals and a somber beat, “Everything” is a battle for the story teller to speak to, as if the singer is struggling with what’s going on with them mentally. This is one of the longer and slower tracks on the album, ending with beautiful and lighter harmonies to somewhat offset the darker tone of the whole song.

The final track on the album “F.Y.,” by far the longest track on Ghosts clocking in at almost eleven minutes, works with bizarre and almost supernatural sounding instrumental vibrations. Three minutes into “F.Y.” we get to hear some vocalization, softer and higher than what we heard in the first six tracks. The lyrics on this track are pure, they are undistorted and softer than before, making it easier to understand the raw poetry that is being sung on this track. Ehrich’s unadulterated voice is beautifully eerie, and the guitar work on this track is canorous and soothing. “F.Y.” is a great note to end on as it evokes reflection and appreciation for one’s own loneliness.

If you enjoy The Hold Steady, Gaslight Anthem, and The Decemberists, then Breakup-Party and their album Ghosts is most definitely for you. Highly recommended.

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