For those of you still experiencing post-Camp a Low Hum depression/a love-fad with anything from Australia, the Sydney-based electronic beat-ambient band Ghoul should demand your attention.
Don’t be fooled by their self-proclaimed genre listing ‘pop’ on Facebook—this is an alternative band that demonstrates the ability to seamlessly cross-genre and still keep a style that is innately their own. Ghoul make few allowances for creative sloppiness, their latest release Dunks carrying a bonfire-sized torch for both the band and the Sydney music scene. It’s unsurprising they supported Yeasayer last month; the crooning from singer Ivan Vižintin alone would start a cult following, and you get the impression they do as much listening around as they do playing. Their earlier EP A Mouthful of Gold is more traditional four-piece band-orientated but no less interesting. Ghoul is showcasing a direction in music that could both hold appeal to many and simultaneously educate—I’m even shyly suggesting a nod in the direction of Triosk, Mount Kimbie or Four Tet.
The nice thing about these guys, though, is that even though you hear a multitude of these influences, there isn’t obvious copy-catting. Maybe the Southern Hemisphere is slowly moving on from synth-bearing indie-spazz-core bands, or maybe we’ll just appropriate Ghoul’s style here but make it moody and lo-fi. Either way, if they ever cross the ditch, I’ve already mentally purchased my ticket.