Sometimes a song just strikes you so hard that it’s hard to form coherent thoughts or adequately describe what you’re feeling due to the flood of emotions that it evokes. “Static Swell” by Nashville’s Palm Ghosts is that kind of song.
The bio for the quartet describes them as “An ’80’s prom in a war zone” and we get the feeling that if John Hughes directed the original Red Dawn then Palm Ghosts would be creating the “(Don’t You) Forget About Me” of that crazy cinematic concoction. In other places, Palm Ghosts channel Dark Pop innovators like Editors and even early U2 (Think Boy in particular).
But I digress.
The song itself begins with a Walt Epting and Joseph Lekkas-led drum and bass rumble coming at listeners like sonic waves crashing into the shore interspersed with bursts like lightning strikes from Jason Springman and Ben Douglas’ guitars. Switching between urgent and unfeigned bouts of unrelenting passion from Lekkas’ vocal delivery, “Static Swell” is the perfect jumping on point for fans just discovering Palm Ghosts and a worthy addition to their dense discography for longtime listeners.
“Static Swell” has landed through Golden Robot Records now! Keep yer peepers peeled to the music/streaming-related pages here and here so you can get yours or go here for every link conveniently in one place. For more on Palm Ghosts, click here, here, or here.