Geelong acoustic duo Ghost Orchid – composed of two celebrated indie artists from different bands: Matt Wilkinson (LEEDEN) and Nathan Mossop (The Vainz) – have got a bit of a Vance Joy vibe and we’re also tipping they’re into Fleet Foxes (if not, they should be).
The pair’s self-titled debut record contains ten songs named after rare flowers (including the standout title track, which could get confusing): ‘Ghost Orchid’, the song, is resplendent with glorious spectral harmonies supplied by Libby Leissner and Stephanie Wolf Matthews.
Footsteps squelching through gravelly terrain, bird calls, a whistling refrain, mini-orchestra playing off in the distance and did we just hear a blowfly buzzing by? – ‘Bloom’, the record’s opening instrumental, sets an outdoorsy scene.
Find your next favourite act. Check out the best new music from local and independent artists here.
“The rolling mist rolls in across the waves and so it begins…” – what a cracking opening line! Thigh-slappin’ barnstormer ‘Fire Lily’ is a deadset dancefloor-filler with its persistent, stomp-box beat and truly peaks once additional, “Hey! Hey!” enter the mix (that’ll be when the loose do-si-dos kick off). Mossop’s masterful, frenetic guitar playing deserves special mention here.
Closer ‘Corpse Flower’, with its emotive piano stabs, trails out like a triumphant conga line disappearing over the horizon – jubilant brass leading the way.
Overall this is blooming marvellous stuff from Ghost Orchid. File under: ones to watch.
Listen here.
Release date: 22 July
