Houseghost sprung up in late 2020, releasing their debut near Halloween.
Two years later the ghost returns with more stories from Another Realm. The band features members of other bands and play poppy punk with a lot of harmonies. It’s peppy, catchy stuff that’s more about singalongs and pogoing than spitting vitriol. The band also has a theme or, arguably, a gimmick. The songs are all about being a ghost. Another Realm sees the ghost stories taking a somber look at themselves as they fade and float in the ether. The songs are upbeat while singing about being stuck in limbo. The broad tone is one of longing and observation, with a cheeky, playful tone that makes me think of Geena Davis and Alex Baldwin in Beetlejuice. This isn’t a Misfits-inspired band, it’s more like Groove Ghoulies or Ramones with some subtle post-punk tones. For example, the guitar in “Night in the Woods,” which effectively leads off the record, has some Cure-esque vibes underneath that bouncy beat.
What really stands out on this record isn’t the theme, though, it’s the harmonies. The two primary vocalists work well together. They often trade lead vocals from song to song, while meeting together for harmonious choruses. “Night in the Woods,” “The Calling,” and “Another Realm” really highlight the pleasing sound of their combined voices. Beyond the vocals, though, are the melodies which are bouncy on the vast majority of the record. “Happiness” is a great example of this, as is “Pretty Red,” which also gets a bit graphic in sticking to the theme. It’s not gory, rather more of a cartoon or old school Tim Burton vibe, though. No pretension, no pretense. Just fun rock ‘n’ roll with a concept behind it.
A couple personal favorites are “Ziig Zag Zig,” which manages some tongue-twisting gibberish in the lyrics; “Violet,” which masters the singalong groove; and “Pretty Red,” which illustrates how the band tightropes between kinda deep ideas in a silly way. I get shades of Night Birds in “All The Bad News,” which is also a bit heavier, but most of the record comes from that Lookout Records playbook.
I really enjoy the whole record and it feels more fully realized or complete than its predecessor, with the musicians playing off each other and complimenting one another’s strengths. That said, the theme can’t be ignored and while I dig the entire thing, it is music for a certain mood and that will limit just how often I come back to it.
