COMET GAIN // PAPERBACK GHOST

Album number seven of London based band Comet Gain ‘Paperback Ghosts’ is released on July 7th 2014 via Fortuna POP!; the band has been part of the indie pop scene since 1992. The band line up consists of founding member David Feck (songwriter/ vocalist/ guitarist), Rachel Evans ( vocals/ percussion), M J ” Woodie” Taylor (drums), Anne Guillain (keys/ backing vocals/ percussion ), Ben Phillipson (guitar/ vocals ) and James Hornsey (bass).

Their last album, ‘Howl Of The Lonely Crowd’ received much critical acclaim and was produced by Ryan Jarman and Edwyn Collins. ‘Paper Ghosts’ has been described as “sucked in autumn melancholy” and a lot of the songs have an orchestral, ballad and lyrically dense content as well as some harking back to the bands more garage inspired roots.

‘Long After Tonite’s Candles Are Blown’ has the line “we are holding on to life because heaven is a lie” and the song is light in tempo, softy orchestral and lyrically deep with gentle guitar riffs and Feck’s vocals sounding a little like a cross between a softer sounding Cash and Lou Reed combined. On first hearing I didn’t get it – but on the second, I really do. ‘Sad Love And Other Short Stories’ is an upbeat, light melodic song with guitars and percussion cymbals prominent and lyrics weaving tales of the sadness and regret of unrequited lost loves – “What’s the saddest love of all…the one that you made up”. Here Feck sounds like Squeeze era Glen Tilbrook and the song production here is notably very good.

‘Far From The Pavilion’ is upbeat with Evans’ voice to the fore and the other vocals harmonise very well. ‘Sixteen Oh Four’, ‘Avenue Girls’ and ‘Confessions Of A Daydrea ‘ are also more upbeat, garage sounding and will please longtime fans of the band. The beautiful ‘Your Haunted Heart’ completes a truly accomplished, more folkrock feeling 7th album.

Comet Gain are playing The Lexington as part of Labelled With Love Fest on September 17th with fellow label mates The Proper Ornaments and Evans The Death. Tickets available here.