This is motion music, a strong upbeat soundtrack for your life. I hear electronic instrumentals with beats, melodic and drone-rich, a lighter hearted and beautiful journey. Think of the perfect movie soundtrack for a story in your mind, or to go with your screenplay.
This is motion music
Effloresce is an excellent collection of imaginative soundtracks from (ghost). Effloresce can mean to blossom or to burst forth, to reach an optimum stage of development. The word also refers to the crusty powder sometimes found on old masonry. That makes me think of ghosts. The music is easy to glide on, easy-going melodies that bounce and snap. In my mind this music picturing various possible scenes and situations. I can imagine a series of portraits featuring certain facial expressions that tell a story, a drama of meaningful looks and changing emotions. There are dancers… This is motion music, a strong upbeat soundtrack for your life. I hear electronic instrumentals with beats, melodic and drone-rich, a lighter hearted and beautiful journey. Think of the perfect movie soundtrack for a story in your mind, or to go with your screenplay.
“Bloom” (5:37) makes me think of dawn and rising energy, I hear layers of energetic positive intricate beats. Keeping the energetic motion, “Nourish” (6:44) has an extended dance version feeling, always energizing and uplifting. Now for something a little more creepy, “Ness” (1:36) brings odd little moments and repeating calling voices, I think I hear children’s voices from another world. “Thorn” (5:26) begins with a feeling that is magisterial, slow and thoughtful. Then, bring in the beats, the thing takes off, the sound gets bigger and the pace stays slow and thoughtful, extended instrumental bliss. The title track, “Effloresce” (3:42) has a heartbeat tempo, rising into an upbeat energizing dance that blooms.
Activating enchanting strangeness ::
The movies continue, “Further” (5:17) strengthens the pace, bringing a steady beat and endurance. “Enthrall” (6:00) continues as a steady stream of intricate jams, and an activating enchanting strangeness. The pace advances upwards but in strength not intensity, “Breath” (4:50) returns to some of the earlier track’s dawn sensations, life is breath and snappy beats sizzle, I hear steady beats with frequent pleasant surprises. “Harvest” (3:56) makes me think of the pace of riding in a passenger train on a sunny autumn day, looking out of the window at fields that are easy and plentiful.
The remaining tracks are remix versions of the originals, “Bloom (Yuánfèn Dream Remix)” (5:40) makes me think of Tomita’s early electronic sparkling melodies, the steps continue and the beat suggests extra time. “Bloom (Mokhov Remix)” (4:19) features some kickin’ beats, tense and dark, the pace is strong and upbeat, the colors are sparky, dark with isolated colors and lingering friendly images. Creepy “Ness (Hidden Rivers Remix)” (4:43) might come from the bottom of the water, there is a kid here singing. I think it is a little ghost chanting, building and then floating rapidly, beats sparkle. Changing up the tempo, “Thorn (Data Rebel Remix)” (5:52) suggests darkness in slow motion, shimmering beats arrive and build, then the monster beats move in and spectrums change. The pace gets quicker, now we are rolling strong. Finishing, “Effloresce (Charm Days Remix)” (4:17) takes the floor quickly, a sparkler with strong beats. I think that this is the one that says it the best, and the pace is for walking fast or dancing.
Brian Froh was influenced by music as young as age five. His father taught him the most important aspect of composing music is that it has to come from the soul. Growing up in a small town in Connecticut, Brian was able to find a group of friends that shared the same passion for music, which led them to perform, compose, and record music for 8 years together. With his friends nearing the end of their college days Brian felt it was time to look into a new direction, and began composing under the name (ghost). Drawing from musical influences such as the likes of Proem and Boards of Canada, as well as the twisted plots of Edgar Allen Poe and Stephen King, Brian began to shape his sound. His music can be described as a bridge between emotions felt in everyday life and a story of fantasy.
Brian Froh’s alias (ghost) began as a way to write music in the comfort of his own home. After many years of playing in bands, as a DJ, and other musical ensembles he sat down with a laptop, a copy of Logic, and a small two-octave keyboard to create. In 2013 we saw this come to fruition with the album Departure; a combination of acoustic elements he was familiar with, combined with a familiar 00’s era IDM sound. Shortly after Brian moved to Denver, CO to pursue music and meet other like-minded musicians. It wasn’t long before these new ideas culminated into the album A Vast and Decaying Appearance and the likely titled Elas EP. The following release Everything We Touch Turns To Dust was much darker, and closely shadowed the struggles that existed in Brian’s life at the time. For the time being, (ghost) was almost nonexistent. Aside from remixes and compilation tracks the artist stayed dormant, not appearing on any social media or playing any live events.
After what has been almost a five year hiatus, (ghost) returns with his new album Effloresce. Inspired by the passing of his friend, this album is the beginning of a new chapter. (ghost) takes everything he has worked on for the past ten years and refines it to create his own signature sound on this record. Expect to hear familiar synth tones, subtle guitar, and crushing drums set to a somber yet somewhat hopeful timbre. As the album title suggests this is just the beginning of a much lighter hearted and beautiful journey that (ghost) takes us on. ~ Sun Sea Sky
Effloresce is available on Sun Sea Sky. [Bandcamp | Site]
