As I sip on another over-priced pint in the Arches, I almost forget that I’m in attendance of a gig. A supporting bill for the night’s headline act, Former Ghosts, is supposedly scrapped and an eerie silence takes hold of the downstairs bar. A decision to finally escape to the stage makes for little relief, as the doors to the venue’s smallest stage reveal no more than twenty-odd attendees spread awkwardly across the room. Releasing arguably the best album of 2009, Fleurs, as well as a decent follow-up earlier last year seems to have had negligible influence on the crowd turn-out tonight, and it’s a real shame because Former Ghosts really do put on a performance.
The leader of the project, Freddie Ruppert, with support from Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu fame, waste no time to address the crowd and dip straight into New Love’s lead single ‘New Orleans’, a display of Former Ghosts at their most accessible albeit reliably depressive; a means ensured by the lowly baritone of Ruppert. This song would mark the beginning and end of the clarity in Ruppert’s vocals as a polite request for a volume reduction resigns the levels in the rest of the set to low, resonant mumbles interspersed with saddened yelps. It comes at no surprise that Ruppert feels at odds with his voice. A set of Former Ghosts doesn’t let up on the misery front, and there are certainly times when you’re left to wonder whether certain songs inflict more harm upon Ruppert’s conscience than good.
While I had occasional doubts over moments of deafening synthesizer implementation on New Love, its use in a live environment felt better placed. I met the onset of the high-pitched blasts of lead synth in ‘Taurean Nature’ with anticipation rather than warily eyeing up the volume levels on record. Further appeals for sonority would be granted by both members beating the life out of their drum and cymbal set-up, and a particular highlight came in ‘Hold On’ when a frenzied Stewart began to attack the percussion, completely overpowering Ruppert’s progress in the verse. The small room didn’t stand a chance.
An absence of Nika Roza, a.k.a. Zola Jesus, goes by largely unnoticed which is quite something given her rich contribution to the records. It would have perhaps been interesting to hear a take on one of her vocal-dominating tracks, but I guess you can’t really be too picky. In fact, just about any combination of tracks from Fleurs and New Love would have sufficed, such is consistency of material on both records.
As the pair end proceedings with ‘This is my Last Goodbye’, and hurriedly began to clear away their equipment, it was clear that the first Former Ghosts performance in Glasgow has been far from a success. ‘Who is going to love you like I do?’ I couldn’t say, but I can vouch that I’m going to be asking this question several times before Former Ghosts decide to return.
As the pair end proceedings with ‘This is my Last Goodbye’, and hurriedly began to clear away their equipment, it was clear that the first Former Ghosts performance in Glasgow has been far from a success. ‘Who is going to love you like I do?’ I couldn’t say, but I can vouch that I’m going to be asking this question several times before Former Ghosts decide to return.
Former Ghosts "Taurean Nature" Music Video from Amir Shoucri on Vimeo.
