Occult pop - A review of Ghost's If You Have Ghost

Offering an extended play to fill the gap between two regular studio record sounds like a good idea. However, in the case of Ghost's If You Have Ghost the execution is somewhat underwhelming. Two cover songs had already been included on the limited edition of the strong preceding studio record Infestissumam. The fifth track that sounds completely out of place is a quite tame live version of ''Secular Haze'' that doesn't represent the band's intense shows that I could already attend in person and which have later on been documented on the outstanding live record Ceremony and Devotion.

One has to admit that Ghost has managed to choose four unusual cover songs of different genres and adapted them to their very own style. If I had to categorize these cover versions, I would describe them as occult pop. The melodies are quite simple but there is a psychedelic undertone due to vintage organ and piano sounds and eerily saccharine vocals. The record represented the band's mellowest release to that point but this stylistic shift wasn't really rewarded because the original songs aren't particularly outstanding in the first place and Ghost's versions sound atmospheric on one side but quite toothless on the other. The guitar work is too fluffy and forgettable, the bass guitar only plods along and the drum work is missing dynamics.

If you like occult pop and rock music from the late sixties and early seventies, you can give If You Have Ghost a spin. If you find Ghost's own songs quite commercial already, the four cover songs included here will give your audial diabetes. The grimmest thing about this release is its stunning cover artwork referencing F.W. Murnau's creepy silent horror movie Nosferatu that you should watch once in your lifetime. Instead of picking up this extended play, pick up the movie and nourish your mind.

Final rating: 50%