The timing of Ghost Gum’s debut feels cosmically divine. Released on the heels of the autumnal equinox, their shoegaze adjacent LP is the perfect salve to remedy the pain of summer’s end.
Awash in dreamy reverb and heartfelt lyricism, The Past, The Future, Dwelling there like space opens with the melodic urgency of the ironically titled “2nd Song”. Buzzing chords and crashing cymbals collide with clips of conversation and a memorable chorus reminiscent of The Anniversary’s “D is For Detroit,” with each element of the track instantly sinking deep into the psyche of its listener. The steady drums and swirling crash of guitar throughout “Edible Complex” perfectly preface the brief yet atmospheric “Interlude,” before easing into the intimately contemplative swell of “Home”. A plausible portrait of familiarity, whether it be a person or a place, “Home” tugs unabashedly at the heartstrings, and will undoubtedly leave you weak in the knees.
“Mercury,” which lies near the midpoint of the album, has a similar impact on its audience, rendering fans nostalgic for Black Tambourine’s “By Tomorrow” or Bleeding Rainbow’s “Euphoria”. Soon after the song ends, “More” unfolds, and quickly progresses into an audibly lush meditation on uncertainty and the existential need for meaning, a theme that carries over to “Repeater,” an unshakably gripping anthem that explores the frustration of detrimental cycles – emotive and relational alike.
“You Were You,” the final track on Ghost Gum’s first official release, culminates in a self-reflective fashion, haunting yet beautiful. As distorted laughter fades into fuzzed-out guitar, The Past, The Future, Dwelling there like space rings true until the very end. – Dianca London