Ghosts On Tape. Blood Red Shoes

With album number 5, 'Get Together', Blood Red Shoes returned after a few years of silence, with more electronics mixed in between its alternative rock. On its first album in the 20s the fascination for keyboards and synths is clearly still there.

The duo, Laura-May Carter and Steven Ansell, was already known for its huge sound produced by guitar and drums, the electronics give an extra layer to the music. In the new songs the duo became a combo I saw at a live show. This extra layer on Ghosts On Tape has grown and in 2022 sounds more natural or better integrated into Blood Red Shoes' music. Development and growth are important for a band that is in it for the long haul and Blood Red Shoes obviously is.

If Ghosts On Tape is anything, it is exciting. The album aims for several effects: the joy of listening and the elation coming with dancing. Both traits are totally satisfied. Where listening is concerned, the album is filled with memorable songs. All sorts of effects within the songs to discover one by one make listening an exploration and experience. The alternate singing between Carter and Ansell gives more diversity than most bands can offer. Both can write a great song, and do on Ghosts On Tape. With the energy bursting through all the cracks in the songs, dancing is almost compulsory. Whether physically or mentally, dancing is so easy with Ghosts On Tape.

When the energy level goes down a little, a song wins in intensity. Take 'Sucker'. An 80s synth line is mixed with the deeply distorted guitar of Laura-May Carter. A piano joins on the dark notes, matching Carter singing in her deeper register and showing her different tones of voice as well in the harmonies. The song pulses, vibrates, slithers in a perfect mix of synthpop and alternative rock. After the electronic interlude note the acoustic guitar coming in. It is too early to truly tell, but 'Sucker' could well land on my list of favourite Blood Red Shoes songs easily.

Promo photo

The accompanying bio states that there's not much reminding of what Blood Red Shoes used to be. I do not agree. The energy the band always showed is present in abundance. Also the intention with which the band made music is still there. What has changed is the form, as this new layer has been added. This does not make it a new Blood Red Shoes in my view. 'I Am Not You' has a beautiful synth solo or better solo notes, in all else it is a Blood Red Shoes songs as I've come to love and like over the past, what is it now, 14 years? It is the kind of organic development that allows fans to grow with the band. 'Get Together' was the introduction to this change that allows for a smooth transition.

There's no doubt in my mind Carter and Ansell were extremely inspired when making this music. The breadth and width of Ghosts On Tape attests to that inspiration. A lot is happening on the album, here I point again to the listening experience already mentioned. Without discarding its past, Blood Red Shoes has reinvented itself and was invigorated in the process. Just listen to the energy contained in 'I Lose Whatever I Own' or that in the first single, 'Morbid Fascination'.

With Ghosts On Tape the future lays wide open for Blood Red Shoes. There's every reason to explore the road taken further, while highlighting what it is so good at already: rocking alternatively in a grand way. Ghosts On Tape is a great album.

Wout de Natris