Ghostly International / Spectral Sound s/d

I'm not too big on the inclusion of "Press your body" at the beginning of the CD version, but after that it's good to the end.

Some must haves:

Osborne, Daylight (SPC-08) - includes gorgeous Isolee remix
Matthew Dear, Dog Days (SPC-10) - particularly the Pantytec rmx
Osborne, Bout Ready to Jak remixes (SPC-14)
Daniel Wang, Berlin Sunrise (GI-34)

I wonder how many of Ghostly's 63 releases have NOT been from either Dear or Mullinix?

I must second Berlin Sunrise and Audion's Kisses EP. Cotton's full-length is patchy.

When I saw him in Chicago, it seemed awkward at best... hopefully he'll work something out around that.

Philip, didn't you write an article about it? Any thoughts?

I asked Tadd about Two/Three aka the new record and it's still being worked on. I think most if not all the instrumental tracks are done, he's just finding time to get MCs, so it'll be some time next year. Championship Sound had a huge Dabrye influence on it... which I know Tadd took as a huge compliment.

And I think the new Audion EP is out already, but I'm out of the loop now (I feel a little less guilty posting on these threads now that I'm not with the label anymore, amicably of course.)

I liked that Kiln 12" quite a bit too.

All in all, a nice spread between the dancefloor and its discontents.

Me likes.

Solvent's Apples and Synthesisers is hottt too, bassy and poppy at the same time.

dear's live vocal set feels like it's just always tempting around dance pace for the whole show, but when you expect him to fall into a dj set, he just maintains the anticipation, so it never really boils over. it's almost like an art-house movie, and though i know not nearly enough bowie, i'd compare dear's singing to mr. plastic soul, with the half-muted gestures and devious earnestness. i'm still not sure what this means even though i saw him almost four months ago.

MIDWEST PRODUCT. Could someone tell me more than Search? What should I search for?

All the Matthew Dear I've heard has been great. Undecided about James T. Cotton though....

search midwest product's "world series of love"!

I should really clarify the basis on which my judgement is made first – it is quite influential on the decision. When finding Ghostly records, they are normally in amongst the Perlon, Kompakt, Playhouse, Trapez, Circus Music, Musik Krause and allsorts. I have regularly picked up and listened to Ghostly / Spectral stuff and I forever find it the weakest label in there – I am sure I have never bought a single Ghostly or Spectral record.

I find it a bit light, a bit absent of elements that would make me see it as a record I would listen to wilfully – maybe it is a bit too straight Electro at times. I find it hard to put my finger on the exact reason why I haven’t taken to the label, but am fully aware that I have never been convinced to buy it. I find that Dear’s work as Jabberjaw is much better than under his real name – having seen him live I prefered the first hour (which he played in a Jjaw style) and lost interest as he moved to the more straight-up spectral stuff.

Even many friends love of Dabrye hasn’t fully persuaded me, and hasn’t quite won me over. The suggestion I made that I would destroy Ghostly if I had to destroy a label in the same style is true – I constantly find that Ghostly and Spectral releases leave me often without a solid opinion, I don’t buy it, I can’t put my finger on what I don’t like. I still pick their records up to check, but it seems to have settled into a ritual that they always disappoint me.

Dunno if this makes sense – it is a strange label for me.

as for dykehouse, i raved about that record in the voice cuz it hit me hard when i first heard it. but now i hate it. i really can't listen to that thing. i am very fickle.

and i totally stand by my assertion that dear now wants to be bowie. he just needs to get comfortable on stage and he can do it.

but yeah, that's dabrye in the moto commercial.

Ghostly doesn't seem to get that much discussion on ILM but a lot of stuff on Spectral is showing up on mixes I've been listening to lately and there have been a handful of artists with a release or two on the label -- what's the deal there? Upcoming Ellen Allien 12", etc.

Anyone have an opinion on that Skeletons & The Girl-Faced Boys mp3 on the Ghostly site (or the full album, if it's leaked)? I love it except for the vocals- trying to bridge the gap between blue-eyed soul and fey indie and not quite managing.

For that matter, any opinions on the first Skeletons LP on Shinkoyo? The only two reviews I can find (Pitchfork and Stylus) are...remarkably different, to say the least.

i havent heard the earlier LP, but i do like the airiness of the Shinkoyo stuff i downloaded ages back. I enjoyed them at CMJ.

i dont know if we got the spectral comp in yet...ill have to look tonight.

i can email the profile we did on ghostly/spectral in our last issue if anyone wants. abit old now, but...

jams - how can you sign up for ghostly promos/how did you get this comp already? ...and even more pertinent, DAMN YOU FOR MAKING ME A FIEND FOR THE WIRE - i've gone through most of the first season in two days. ahh.

what else is coming out on the spectral roster in the next couple months?

Also: I checked the Ghostly site this morning, and there's a new release from Dabrye called Additional Productions vol. 1 coming out soon- on 12" and CD, so I'm assuming EP length. It can't be a remix compilation- as far as I know the only mix he's done as Dabrye is "Monstertruckdriver," and co-production on some Prefuse 73 tracks. Hmmm.

And yeah, M Dear's Audion stuff is a blast. The CD/LP, Suckfish, supposedly has all the 12"s on it, though I dunno about remixes.

:D

s25.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=053AAOMTM3ABC3RBU72MWX91W8

Classic Samuel material; you need it.

Last ghostly thing I bought was the Lusine - 'Inside/Out' EP which I really like.

Say, can anyone tell me what band's vinyl sleeve design inspired the original Spectral stock jackets, by any chance. . .

I'm guessing that means these:

http://static.ghostly.com/images/artists/1/albums/149/SPC-25_300x300.jpg

I really would not mind winning this contest

i've no idea.

all i have to say is, last saturday my friend played a track off this

http://www.discogs.com/James-Cotton-Press-Your-Body-EP/release/260298

and it was bloody sick

KILN album seems a good un'.

Not actually Ghostly but Ghostly-related: anyone heard any of the Jacasek album of "traditional church songs"?

Sorry, *Jacaszek*.

This week I am enjoying KILN, is anyone else enjoying KILN

I don't know KILN but will investigate KILN. I have every confidence in Ghostly.

Somewhat obsessed with the Brijean album which is 'just' a luscious bleached midsummer smeary watercolour of softy pop vibes i.e. perfect.