Ghosting Season – Previewed

Playing the Kazimier later this week, Stephanie Kehoe prepares for spooky duo, Ghosting Season…

Manchester based trance/electro duo, Ghosting Season, pay an overnight visit to the Kazimier this week as part of their short European tour. After releasing three albums under the name of worriedaboutsatan, the duo have not strayed too far from their roots for the new project.

Originally from Yorkshire, the two friends, Gavin Miller & Tom Ragsdale, create a sound reminiscent of a chilled out Paul van Dyk or DJ Tiesto. However, to compare Ghosting Season to any other musician in this burgeoning genre is pointless, as they have created their own distinct footprint on that particular landscape.

Complimenting relaxed tempos with looped samples, the listener is gradually introduced to every new sound that will be added into the song, whether it is noticeable or not. Their original hypnotic sound is made from layers upon layers of synth and drum machines, with a mash-up of live instruments such as keyboard and guitar… occasionally played with a cello bow. It’s something you don’t see every day; certainly, you would hardly believe that a guitar could make such a haunting sound.

“We are guided along this very particular process of music creation”

By gradually adding instrument over instrument, each song has a unique orchestral climax, taking listeners on a journey through their craft, showing us how they begin to piece together a full piece. Through sound, we are guided Ghosting Season-style, along this very particular process of music creation.

The effects are as interesting as the process itself. Listening to their discography, I found myself falling into a hypnotic, trance-like state, true to the name of the genre they occupy. A stand out track, Host of the Seraphim (above), remixes samples of Bulgarian folk music on top of an enchanting drone of synth, with epic-sounding results. There is something so serene, yet exciting about the piece as the texture of the music begins to build to a climactic point of harmonious accord.

Much of Ghosting Season’s output has little, if any vocal; if one is included, it is a muffle of singing, or in another tongue. Intentional or not, the exclusion of lyrics allows for the listener to hear and appreciate the song fully: being able to pick out techniques and arrangements means the duo elegantly side-step the problem which befalls so much of the mainstream: it is easy to forget that the music, which can so easily become a background noise to the voice singing over the top, should be a brilliant and complex piece in itself.

Ghosting Season wonderfully draw our attention to that fact. After all, have you ever truly listened to each of the layers of your favourite song without the lyrics to sing along to? Would they stand up to that kind of analysis at all?

On stage, the two friends choose to place each of their mix tables opposing each other, in a very battle royale fashion. However, the final outcome is anything but, instead creating a symphonic melody, captivating to the point of serenity. A one-off, Ghosting Season should make for a hauntingly mesmerizing live experience. 

Stephanie Kehoe

Ghosting Season play Thursday 8pm @ the Kazimier and are supported by D/R/U/G/S £7

Posted on 28/05/2013 by thedoublenegative