"Give Up the Ghost" by dogmarket

As noted last time, dogmarket's release schedule remains at a high level of activity and indeed we now have a new single  "Give Up the Ghost" to enjoy. (Look out for "Images of Survival" and then an album in the New Year too).

The first comment (let's get the obvious out of the way) that every listener will spot is the inherent ghostliness of the vocals, enhanced by the arrangement.

Once again, there is an element of reasonable density in the production which exacerbates the overall limited accessibility of the lyrics.. however as I explore Thom's music through what they share, I fully recognise this as an important characteristic. I don't know their preferences in art, but it might be towards Impressionism given the musical approach.

With tracks like these where the overall effect is the intended point of impact, it's a bit disrespectful to try & break what's going on into component pieces: the layering and juxtaposition are obviously major creative decisions and deconstruction would be to try to undo their work.

It's a haunting piece of "SADGAYELECTRONICA": don't expect anything dissonant: if anything it's a bit classical with a sort of harpsichord sound in there from time to time amid various other keyboard sounds (and I think an acoustic guitar?) and above all multiple voices.

The tone is compassionate to my ears and if mournful, also regretful: certainly nothing to do with fear or any conventional supernatural tropes.  For a moment I pondered too any possible connection to Howard Devoto's classic 1976 line "I'll give up that ghost before it gives up me" but I suspect that there isn't one.

I don't know how dogmarket fans interact with their music.. you probably can't dance to it (though it maybe that you can & I lack both the necessary skills & imagination). It's all rather evocative, each in its own way, but those ways are so different that immersing yourself in dogmarket music by playing the tracks in sequence is likely to provide you with some abrupt shifts in tone every few minutes: not terribly conducive to mindfulness. On the other hand, it seems rather lacking in due respect to play them as soundtrack to any other activity you may be engaged in…. I look forward to solving this conundrum.