EP Review: Ghost - If You Have Ghost

Ghost - If You Have Ghost

Universal Republic Records - 2013

8/10

Out of the two Ghost EPs, If You Have Ghost is easily the superior of the two. While Popestar has its strong moments and decent identity, only roughly half of it is something I look forward to listening to. Both EPs have a poppier attachment to the surface, but I feel that this one had less of an end goal in mind and just wanted to turn some songs into their own. This proved successful, as all four tracks boast incredible levels of originality, harder edge, and smooth melody.

The “title track” (if you will), a cover of Roky Erikson’s “If You Have Ghosts” is probably the strongest cover they’ve ever put out. Turning the strong leads into a robust powerhouse did wonders, and the transitions here are immaculate. Despite the super warm vibes given off, the rest of the album departs from that while maintaining the melodic integrity. ABBA’s “I’m A Marionette” continues the original’s danceability, but swings in with darker, cool overcasts in the chorus. 

This swiftly falls into Army Of Lovers’s “Crucify,” one that rides on clean acoustics, but sneaks in a doomier base that compliments Papa’s whisper vocals wonderfully; dark undertones swarm this one all over. Cap things off with Depeche Mode’s “Waiting For The Night,” which weirdly swings back to the brighter vibes, though not to the degree of the opening track. I’d say the original version sounds darker than this one, despite this being guitar oriented. Figure the entire EP is like a slow descent into sleep with a sudden awakening.

The literal only thing that plagues If You Have Ghost was the stupidly unnecessary addition of a live “Secular Haze” at the end. Not only does this not fit with the theme of in-studio, only covers, but it throws off the entire energy that’s maintained for the four actual tracks. Bands will make their mistakes, but this truly is a move that I have no idea how they’d justify. Because outside of this, this is easily the most comprehensive, swift, and concise delivery of four covers on one disc I’ve ever heard.