Goths, emos: walk away now. You're lovely people but I don't want you to be subjected to this slab of emotion when you're clearly in a vulnerable state. Go and read some Neil Gaiman, play World of Warcraft and get a good night's sleep - only then, when you're in a happy place, should you listen to this non-Gothic EP of folky electronica.
Long story short: I really wasn't in the mood for anaemic music that doddered about like a drunken geriatric, and banished Canciones del Futuro to a dark and distant corner of my hard drive only because I couldn't be bothered to delete it. One day, my cantankerous media player popped it in a playlist and told me that (this may not come as a shock to you) I'm an idiot. This three-track EP by Ghosts and Strings, released by Resting Bell, reminds me why the netlabel scene is so exciting. Some of the sounds you'll hear: guitars, Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer (yeah, me too), broken autoharp, drums, cello, flutes, field recordings, found objects and children's toys.
The man responsible for this mélange*, David Molina, aka Ghosts and Strings aka Los Veneremos, is not only a composer/musician; he's also a sound designer and recording engineer, which means that his epic, cinematic, ridiculously intimate songs float on a warm, soft bed of reverberating goodness.
Wondering why I disliked this at first? The musical contents of the first track, Heights, include a stately bass drum, a lo-fi lunatic whispering a glitchy, martial tune in your left ear, and a wobbly flute.
*cups ear*
Is that sympathy I'm hearing? Why, Internet, you're too kind. But don't worry, Heights is a grower - there's an atmospheric synth accompaniment, a few noises off, and a whispering vocal that says: "I can change. I can do this. I can change." It feels like telepathy.
Up next is Searching, which starts with chimes and clangs (probably that broken auto harp and dulcimer thingy), then drops a low mechanical bass groove and lets loose a snare that sounds like a vase smashing on the floor. If that's not enough, the emo vocal and guitar and bass accompaniment will have you floating away in no time.
Exotic birdsong opens Judgement Day, is met by a lovely guitar refrain and then, magically, joins in with the rhythm. His voice is not the strongest, but Mr Molina compensates by panning, chorusing, eq-ing and reverberating it until your ears accept it as just another instrument, although it's one which delivers such a paean of regret that it will leave fans of sci-fi, castles and black roses with mascara running down their pasty faces. I did warn you.
Canciones del Futuro is an innovative, beautifully weighted EP that gave me one of those wonderful "I am now the centre of global cool" listening moments. I hope you experience it too.
Ghosts and Strings - Canciones del Futuro (link to zipped album & individual files)
Resting Bell netlabel will press a damp flannel to your clammy forehead and spoonfeed you with some of the most beautiful, meditative and inspiring free music on the net.
*this word is delivered free of charge
