The Future of the Ghost: Freak Out

It’ll probably take only a passing appreciation of your local music scene for you to realise that not all unsigned bands deserve to be so. The Future of the Ghost might not be a ticking time-bomb of superstars in the waiting, but then neither, their debut album suggests, do they deserve to go unnoticed. In its plainest terms, the trio make simple-but-effective energetic rock music, at times verging on punk and often revelling in pop hooks, executed best on the fast-as-fuck, acerbic title track. At times Will Sartain’s vocals are strained, but generally are befitting of his self-consciously awkward lyrical style, and there’s something a little Malkmus-esque about the singer at times, both lyrically, and, particularly on the closer “It Goes Down”, in terms of delivery. A heavy bout of touring in early 2008, not to mention recent support slots alongside Deerhoof, should deservedly boost their profile, but for now, you get the sense that the Future of the Ghost are just having fun making catchy pop rock. Luckily for them, their enjoyment is contagious.