Monster Movie

Considering the bands that Christian Savill and Sean Hewson have been involved with over the years, Monster Movie sound just like they should ― somewhere between the swirly noisiness of early Slowdive and the atmospheric, twee indie pop of Sarah Records band Eternal. The duo have been together in some capacity for about 20 years ― in this incarnation for about half that time ― and while there probably isn't going to be any kind of major breakthrough anytime soon, Everyone Is A Ghost is a remarkably solid record. It isn't a particularly optimistic one though, featuring bleak artwork and downbeat, synthesiser-driven music that throbs and clangs along. Yet they don't settle down into one particular mood, and when they shift gears and pick up their acoustic guitars or sit down at the piano, the songs are both pretty and fragile. There are moments reminiscent of a slower, less cheerful Magnetic Fields and plenty more that could easily come from their Sarah Records days, but it's the more electronic songs that are the most memorable. At this point in their musical careers, Monster Movie are likely going to keep making music no matter what, but there is a lot to like about Everyone Is A Ghost. It isn't a drastic step forward for the band, but the addition of Black Moth Super Rainbow's Ryan Graveface to the proceedings has helped make this the best of their five albums.