Graveface
On a purely tonal level Everyone is a Ghost is perfectly pitched. That’s hardly a surprise given the CV of Monster Movie’s founder Christian Savill (formerly of ’80s and ’90s shoegazers Slowdive) and contributions from label owner Ryan Graveface (of Black Moth Super Rainbow). Dipped from the same well as Grandaddy M83 and so many other nostalgia-miners the album’s dreamy synths drum machines and guitars provide an ideal downcast sheen.
That said the songs themselves are where things get sticky. Underneath the shimmering atmosphere all that’s left are overly melodramatic melodies stupendously sappy lyrics and soap-opera schmaltz. Getting down to brass tacks Monster Movie skates a fine line between passionate ’80s pop and Brian Eno-produced Coldplay. In other words an ear-pleasing soundtrack if you’re in need of a cry and able to ignore the cheese.
