Ghost Maps: The Ocean from the River

The Ocean to the River
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Artist: Ghost Maps
Genre: Alternative
Label: Casino Gravity

Jeff Martin is frontman of the (now defunct) electro-infused post-rockers Halfset and solo musician in his own right. His latest creative undertaking isn't too much of a stylistic u-turn. There aren't many surprises in the first Ghost Maps album, yet the Dubliner has created a hugely likeable landscape filled with melody, melancholia and murmured vocals. There's a pleasing intimate tick to Vanilla, its brass undertones providing texture amid the swirling layers. Instrumental track If I Knew Where I Was I'd Be There is a highlight, a soft swell of strings supplementing piano that gives way to plucked guitar. The Valley, meanwhile, kicks out the jams for a comparatively blistering krautrock-infused rock groove. Nitpickers may argue that the album is a little static in parts, but most will be sufficiently intrigued to see where these maps lead. ghost-maps.com
Download: Vanilla, The Valley

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy is a freelance journalist and broadcaster. She writes about music and the arts for The Irish Times