Australia winter cold. It’s not Siberia cold by any means, but for a country where most housing has zero insulation it means that sometimes being outside in the winter is warmer than being inside and the latest from Ghost Fan Club is a surefire way to warm the soul. The self-titled EP by Tyler Costolo aka Ghost Fan Club is a touching exploration of inner turmoil and tinged with melancholy that evokes grey cold days. In other words, it’s the perfect soundtrack for an Australian winter.
Across the six tracks, Ghost Fan Club dives deep into themes of depression, grief, and the perpetual search for solace. Despite the moody and broody subjects, there are wonderful moments of cheeriness that erupts from the music that grounds a person’s soul into a good vibration. This beautiful acknowledgement of both the dark and the light makes Ghost Fan Club a tapestry of heartfelt emotions that are given permission to feel what they feel, but not given the okay to linger in a space where they could cause harm.
Tracks like “Shoulders”, a haunting ballad that showcases Ghost Fan Club‘s trademark ethereal vocals, have lyrics that are introspective and raw. The song looks into Ghost Fan Club’s own battles with sadness and the struggles of existence. While “Now and Then” continues the introspective journey and blends slowcore and bedroom pop into a sound that is both delicate and emotionally charged. With Tom Morris of Swim Camp contributing on drums, there’s an added depth and urgency to the track. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of emotional turbulence, capturing moments of fleeting happiness contrasted with pervasive feelings of despair and loneliness.
Each song’s minimalist instrumentation not only allows Ghost Fan Club’s voice to take centre stage but also allows the lyrics to echo the profound emotional weight that permeate through each song. Throughout the EP, Ghost Fan Club excels in conveying complex emotions with astonishing clarity. Each track serves as a poignant vignette, inviting one into Ghost Fan Club’s vulnerable world where vulnerability is celebrated rather than hidden. The music transcends mere melody and becomes a conduit for deep-seated emotions that resonate long after the last note fades.
Ghost Fan Club‘s self-titled EP is a testament to Tyler Costolo‘s artistic evolution and his ability to channel personal struggles into evocative musical narratives. It’s a journey through darkness and light, where each song is a beacon of introspection, emotional honesty, and hope.
