MY OWN GHOST – Shadow People (2022)
Every now and then an album comes along that is refreshing and new. ”Shadow People” by MY OWN GHOST is one of those albums. ”Shadow People” is a modern female-fronted melodic hard rock album with more than a nod to the ’80s – take a look at the cover art and that neon all over gives you a pretty good idea – yet at the same time delivering a fresh new sound that is sweet candy for your ears.
There is also plenty for fans of pop-rock and sci-fi to enjoy here, too. This is not a concept album at all; it is a collection of songs that fit together nicely to form a very pleasurable listen. Production is bright and clear, enhancing even more these catchy songs.
The album begins with a short intro, ’10-97 Downtown’, which links smoothly into ‘DecadenCity’, a fast-paced song with a very vibrant modern feel that perfectly sets the tone for the album. The Sci-Fi sounds of Jet Black Heartbreak lead us into a wonderfully catchy sing-along tune, with some great hard rock riffs and well-placed key changes.
‘Between Now and the End’ is a heavier song, with fantastic vocal harmonies and an electronic slant to the musical arrangement. ‘Regrets From the Past’ brings down the tempo a touch, and shows the bands softer side.
‘Number 2110’ uses some clever sound effects to change pace several times throughout, and creates a very up-tempo track to get you bouncing. ‘Remember’ is a gorgeous offering with a superbly understated backing track that further enhances the harmonious, crystal-clear vocals of Julie Rodesch.
‘Shadow in Your Room’ is brilliantly retro, with its dark riffing, haunting vocals and superb ’80s style guitar playing – a lovely dose of nostalgia!
‘Black Rose Motel’ hits a groove, bringing the band’s more metallic side to the forefront. It’s a song that’s guaranteed to get your pulse racing and your fist pumping, with some awesome fills from drummer Michael Stein.
‘Home’ continues the retro theme; the vocals are angelic, and the guitars are completely mesmerising, while ‘Dark River’ hammers out a pulsating beat and contains the best guitar solo on the album. ‘Somebody Else’s Sky’ is deeply rich in sound with several layers, creating a fantastic and atmospheric image for the listener. It blends perfectly into the final track, ‘Nightdrive’, which instantly revs up to high speed, takes you on a blistering musical journey and finishes with a bang.
”Shadow People” by My Own Ghost is a great listen; full of well executed melodic vocals, slick guitar playing, and although the lyrics are often dark, the delivery is very uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable.
As said, this is a very refreshing band, sounding authentic and naturally blending the 80s melodic feel good with an updated modern sound production.
Highly Recommended
01 – 10-97 Downtown
02 – DecadenCity
03 – Jet Black Heartbreak
04 – Between Now And The End
05 – Regrets From The Past
06 – Number 2110
07 – Remember
08 – Shadow In Your Room
09 – Black Rose Motel
10 – Home
11 – Dark River
12 – Somebody Else’s Sky
13 – Nightdrive
Julie Rodesch (vocals)
David Soppelsa (guitars, keyboards)
Joe May (bass)
Michael Stein (drums)
BUY
imusic.co/music/4028466902962/my-own-ghost-2022-shadow-people-cd
