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Writer's pictureSylvain Lupari

JAMES MURRAY: Ghostwalk E.P. (2016)

“To be honest?! I already heard a ghost's walk a little more discreet than this Ghostwalk”

1 Ghostwalk 6:58 2 Ghostwalk (Kinosura remix) 7:08 3 Ghostwalk (Martin Nonstatic remix) 7:27 inre088

(DDL 20:39) (V.F.) (Psybeats, Groove & Electronica)

I already heard a ghost's walk a little more discreet than that proposed by James Murray! The title-track of this foretaste of the British synth-man's comeback album on Ultimae Records opens with bass pulsations which skip under the delicate bites of cymbals. Layers which buzz like wings of big bumblebees intimidate this opening with a surprising effect of humming, defining the barriers of Ghostwalk which will balance between a rhythm slightly bouncing and some short ambient phases which are quite near a surrealist decoration peculiar to the night electronic-ballads of those dear spectres which feed our most serene insanities. The sequences move with fluidity and with a good effect of gap in the pace, offering a structure which gets loose from the minimalism mood and which hooks the interest of our listening. But the effects, and this spectral melody which mystifies with its misleading appearances, are at the heart of Ghostwalk with an approach more ghostly than organic. It's a premiere for me here to review an E.P. But the based-Lyon label being which it is, has this habit to offer remixed versions of single on E.P. And this one offers 2 remixed versions of GHOSTWALK from Eyes to the Height; the next album of James Murray.

So, the first remix comes from a new artist Kinosura. Here, the lines of bass are more fascinating, and the rhythm is more linear with laconic pulsations and effects of percussions which click and fly away like a thick cloud of noises. The synth layers get intermingling in a sonic decoration which is closer to the roots of Ultimae Records with nice effects of hoops and with dark breezes always as much spectral as James Murray's vision. I liked this approach a bit more dance and groove than the original version. Martin Nonstatic's remix is livelier with sequenced pulsations that are more accentuated. New sound effects, I particularly like the noise of these metallic doors which make creak the hinges, and a delicate melody which is hummed in this ambience of spectres and their hypnotic charms add a great depth to the track. It bears the seal of Martin Nonstatic, and it's the most electronic version of Ghostwalk. The album is expected later this year and I expect something rather unusual. But isn't it always the case with Ultimae Records!

Sylvain Lupari (October 14th, 2016) *****

Available at Ultimae Records Bandcamp

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