Lonely Ghosts - Come Down From The Mountain/Ghosts of

With this double A-side from Tom Denney, formerly of indie-noise outlet Help She Can’t Swim, comparisons are inevitable. Yet, the one-time side-project seems to benefit from more focus. Come Down From The Mountain provides layered keyboards and throbbing underbeats combined with synthetic snare sounds. Ghosts of Mice shines with backing vocals recalling TV on the Radio, combined with half-time drum machine ticks and a lilting feel. Lyrically, however, the EP flits between being incredibly heartfelt and pushing the emotional buttons too brashly at times. Vocals are occasionally spat out unexpectedly speech-like, jarring with the delicate nature of the songs. Perhaps a little too ‘nice’, the tracks never really lift to the extraordinary, a fist scarcely tempted to the sky. Yet, the ultimate outcome is fragile, pleasant electro-pop, sure to develop as its maker gains more confidence in his independent stance.