CD REVIEW: THE GHOSTS OF LOVERS – The Ghosts Of Lovers

Shane | 18 December 2016 | Reply

CD REVIEW: THE GHOSTS OF LOVERS – The Ghosts Of Lovers
Angels In Exile Records
14 November, 2016
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
7 ½ /10

Angels In Exile Records have gathered together all the known recordings of The Ghosts Of Lovers, a five-piece (most of the time) who wandered the dark alleys of London, UK in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s – though without being told that, you’d think this was a new band going down the retro glam/goth/punk route.

The dark cover photo shows a band that look like a cross between The Dogs D’Amour and Eloise-era The Damned, but that’s only part of the story – the music has more in common with multi-generational Rolling Stones boogie, as viewed through the prism of crushed velvet goth and sneery punk attitude and Hanoi Rocks cool and Johnny Thunders wastedness and even a touch of rockabilly spice.

Sourced from different sessions in different studios, and with four live tracks tacked on the end, there is a certain disjointedness to the collection, so it’s important to understand that this is an anthology rather than a new studio album.

Despite that, it’s thoroughly enjoyable trashy n’ thrashy rock n’ roll, full of good songs played with wanton abandon and an admirably raw authenticity (that may be part attitude and part budget), wrapped up in a cool timewarp package with art by respected artist Sophie Lo and photographs from the time by Giacomino Parkinson.

Most interesting to note is that although these recordings are 26-plus years old, there is a uniqueness to the band that could have developed into something very special given the time to gestate properly. Tonight, Don’t Be Afraid, The Light Of My Sanity, Another Time, the mellower Sweet Sensitive Young Thing and Souls On Fire all shine and the whole collection holds up to repeated listens, even if Drowing In The Sea Of Madness and the live song intros (“this song is about PAIN”) get a bit mired in the whole ‘woe is me’ Goth thing.