(((O))) : Snow Ghosts – A Wrecking

Should the uninitiated take a cursory glance at the Houndstooth roster, it would be easy to make the assumption that the label was infatuated with the white stuff (snow, not cocaine). Snow Ghosts are actually Throwing Snow and Augustus Ghost, suggesting less of an icy precipitation fixation and more a tight core group of artists enjoying fruitful collaboration. The duo’s debut album, A Small Murmation, pitted the pioneering bass music of Ross Tones against Hannah Cartwright’s electronic explorations, to great effect.

Now, with the addition of multi-instrumentalist Oliver Knowles, Snow Ghosts present A Wrecking, a return to the nautical theme that’s been present since debut EP Lost At Sea. This subject matter pervades the entire album, from the lyrics and compositions right through to the murky, submerged recording and production techniques that see reverbs flourish where clean sounds might have otherwise sufficed. Knowles’ presence has turned Snow Ghosts into more of a “band”, now resembling The XX’s emotive pop as much as they do Lost Harbours’ experimental folk leanings.

It’s also noteworthy that the metallic element to Snow Ghosts’ sound has been thrown overboard in favour of a brooding, unspoken menace. This less-is-more approach is in many ways an improvement, and tunes such as ‘Bowline’ even have an airy, light feel about them, although with Cartwright intoning “our shadows will walk like the ghosts of us”, this is far from a happy affair. The album veers like a ship dashed against the rocks, at times marrying experimental noise with folk violin, whilst at other times favouring relatively straight-forward sombre electronic pop.

On the more approachable “songs”, such as ‘Drought’ and ‘Take A Life’, Tones’ rhythmic invention comes to the fore. Elsewhere, the album relies on texture rather than rhythm, and it’s these tunes that provide the highlights – a stark reminder that Houndstooth as a label has developed a profile and aesthetic completely divorced from parent club Fabric. The album is tail-ended by ‘A Wrecking Parts I’ and ‘II’, both incorporating field recordings. These help to create the sense of space that’s echoed throughout the album. It’s this haunting emptiness that makes Snow Ghosts an appealing proposition. One only hopes that this isn’t lost as the trio hone and develop their sound. On A Wrecking, Snow Ghosts have the balance between the experimental and the conventional just about right.