The latest EP from Ghost Soul might have released during the summer, but for Yours Truly it carries a lot of autumnal energy. For context, Down Here On Earth released in between a busy period. I was on the comedown from working Audiofeed Festival and I was about to head up north to Michigan for our annual big family vacation (which is relaxing and chaotic at the same time – anyone who’s done a week-long getaway with multiple households and littles knows what I mean). A few weeks and a personal career revelation later, I finally feel in the proper headspace to do some longform writing.

Late August is always a weird time. People are going back to school. People in general and marketing gurus are insisting its fall even though it’s still 95 degrees outside. This collision of seemingly contradictory sentiments jives well with what this EP emotes. The weather feels almost oppressive and yet there’s a scurrying sort of energy in the air. This is reflected in the heady percussion and haunting melodies that permeate this release. There’s always a lot going on instrumentally, even when it seems to be more mellow, resulting in a blanket-like haunting feeling. This is perhaps best articulated in “Timelines,” a collaboration between Ghost Soul and Summon Luke; the former of which has a tendency to be frantic in its compositions, and the latter of which is haunting and ethereal (Luke Harris has one of the distinct voices in alt-rock today; I’ll die on that hill). “Lemon Tree” carries some ballad tendencies, and the band touches on some The War on Drugs like motifs. “Another Spin” is so quiet at first I hardly noticed the song started, but as I became dialed into what was happening, I actually found myself getting kind of emotional. The flourish of sound that suddenly sweeps over you nearly two and a half minutes in should be jarring – but it isn’t.

I was a HUGE fan of the full length release from Ghost Soul, titled Too Many Futures. The closest to the feeling on this album we come is on the short and snappy “Houndstooth.” This isn’t a complaint – the band has more than proved they can hold their own amongst indie giants of the industry, in terms of both songwriting and their production and this record is no different. I find myself nostalgic for the pep of older Ghost Soul, but simultaneously feel like this album is more authentic to where the band is now and have a deep appreciation for what it is. Vocalist James Harker has spent much of the past couple of years battling a form of leukemia, so I’m super grateful for any musical output whatsoever.

Ghost Soul continues to evolve and I’m here for it. Give the band a follow on Instagram.