I've seen Sensor Ghost a bunch of times live so I'm sort of excited that they're releasing an EP today. I wonder what folks will make of 3 Songs. The music here is odd on purpose, as if the trio was trying to deconstruct rock in front of us. But in that act of dissection, Sensor Ghost make a kind of magical indie, one which recalls influences as disarate as Daniel Johnston, early Guided by Voices, Jonathan Richman, and The Fall.
Mike Andre (bass and vocals) and Amanda Huron (guitar) were (are?) in Puff Pieces together, while Sam Lavine (drums) is doing double duty here and in Light Beams. The sound on "Still Sour" is fresh, a burst of manic energy being harnassed tight. The clipped rhythms of "Psychic Robots", a live favorite, give Lavine a chance to anchor the hook and guide the other two players towards flashes of fuzzy noise, while "Crystal Spa" draws in a vibe that's nudgingly propulsive like those early Art Brut sides. None of this should work but it does, and very well.
Senshor Ghosts are that rare group (like The Fall) where things sort of all sound the same, but they don't, you know? You hear a clutch of songs and want more. Fans of any of the bands I've referenced above, or early Devo or early Talking Heads, should find lots that resonates here. I want more songs already, of course!
Three Songs by Sensor Ghost is out today. It's Bandcamp Friday so dig deep!
[Photo: Christopher Grady]