Ghost Cards - Ghost Cards (EP)

​Ghost Cards

Ghost Cards (EP)
self-released; 2019

​4.0 out of 5

By Isabelle Rizzo

Vancouver BC based Ghost Cards released their first self-titled EP Ghost Cards once JL, the instrumentalist found their singer Dolly de Guerre from Dublin, Ireland. This dark melancholic dark wave/post-punk duo started in 2017 and has not looked back since. Fans of Talking Heads, The Cure and Fran Ferdinand will be very happy.

The EP is a total of four songs “The Drive” starts with electric guitar, ‘80s drums and faded out gunshots. De Guerre’s lyrics come in and it takes me back to those emo punk days of high school. A little riot girl, a little punk, zines strewn around.

“The Drive” is the perfect post-work drive song. Definitely an ‘80s throwback. It gets a bit more uptempo with the second song on the album “Bodies.” The guitar showcased and also mirrored the lyrics. "If I can have you, nobody can" is the struggle, the holding on. "Nobody's in the darkness, in the lake, in the garden, in the dark."

“Romance Nomads” may be my favorite song on the album. This song is filled with intense drums, and the guitar that acts as percussion. "Romance, Nomads, Romance..." De Guerre's lyrics echo as the synths bellow outward. I felt like it was the marching anthem song for teen punk romances when the girl stopped changing who she was for the guy. The clashing disparate drums close it out abruptly knowing there is a new beginning.

The album completes with "Breathe," a breathy, creepy drive away. "You shoulda tied her up... but you're only half a man." This inner conflict, "Take a chisel to your skull," is just ready to end it all. This may have been the darkest one on the album and the most distorted that creates that dystopian and queasy feeling. It's all just a bit too much but in the best way.

​Ghost Cards is a macabre ‘80s synth mood with a dash of punk vocals and lyrics to soothe your former emo high school self. Bring out the zines, bring out the sharpies, let's drive off and get darkly romantic about it.

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