Night Church is the second album by London-based band Ghosts Of Our Former Selves and it stands out as a brilliant package wrapped with nostalgia, innovation and emotions. The band consists of singer Theo Brehony, guitarist Sanderson Rocha and producer Fred Ala. The album is built upon a foundation of soul and funk, with the inclusion of classic rock elements, eloquent songwriting and synth sounds. It is a fresh sound that is successful in appreciating the past. The band worked on the album for 4 years during which they went through several experiences in life, including the loss of fathers and birth of children. Night Church as an album represents their attempt to process and make sense of these experiences, while also celebrating life despite the several hardships that are a prominent feature of it. In the words of Theo Brehony, the singer and lyricist of Ghosts Of Our Former Selves:
“An album is a slice of life. This is like a picture of all the things that have happened since our last release. It started out as an album about the breakup of a relationship but turned into a record about redemption, love, starting again, having children, becoming fathers. And that’s just the surface – there is a song about online dating, Brexit, Glastonbury, the weirdness of Dubai, the UK’s lockdown, couples in therapy… and living each day as if it’s your last.”
‘Sea of People’ is the opening song to the album, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. It is the kind of song that is made for people and makes no effort to imply otherwise. Groovy as promised, it marks Ghosts Of Our Former Selves as a band that creates music because of the sheer joy that they derive from it. Songs like ‘Kingdom’ build on this sentiment, oozing confidence in a near-cinematic way. A common theme that emerges through the record is the focus on individuality and the articulation of emotions and experiences that shape a person.
One of my favorite tracks on the record is ‘Now We’re Talking.’ With memorable melodies and infectious harmonies, it is the kind of song that unleashes their true potential while they narrate the experience of navigating an arduous stage in a relationship. When Theo sings, “If you want someone to drag this to the light/ I open up and tell you everything on my mind” it is so easy to find yourself in a similar position of grasping onto something precious to you and doing whatever it takes to keep holding on. Then there’s songs like ‘Outsiders’ and ‘Close to the Sun’ which display the darker and more melancholic side of Ghosts Of Our Former Selves. The album’s closer ‘Golden’ is once again another personal track, inspired by Theo’s own life and that of his son, challenging the notion of the ‘golden boy syndrome’ and encouraging people to embrace the love and affection that they receive.
Running for about 52 minutes across 12 songs, Night Church has a lot to offer regarding both lyrics and music. It took a lot of time and effort to make, including mixing half the album on Zoom due to COVID constraints. Despite the challenges, Ghosts Of Our Former Selves presents us with a timeless album that captures the experiences that make them who they are today and helps us relate to them, so it was definitely worth the wait. It is music with a soul and it is music that pays homage to the eras of the 70s and 80s, but it is also a record that promotes hope for the future because they believe ‘Life’s What You Make It.’ Night Church is an album you cannot get enough of and it highlights an incredibly promising future for Ghosts Of Our Former Selves.