The keyboard-laden sound and propulsive beat immediately brings to mind some of the finest German engineering of the 70s. But the beats are analog, and it turns out there's a bit more of a traditional band thing going on.

Ghostlawns Motorik (SUB)

Fusing that early techno with new wave, EDM and more than a hint of industrial goodness, Ghostlawn ripples its way through an electronic sky. But the band side of things (including modestly atonal vocals) keeps firing as well.

These songs have a whole lot more oomph than yer average raver, and Ghostlawns seems intent on driving things over the cliff. Once a song starts, there are no brakes but rather the implications of a collision. The songs don't so much fade as simply fail to continue. Not unheard of in indie rock, of course, but something of an anomaly for this sound.

Unless, of course, it turns out that Ghostlawns is more of an indie rock band clad in electronic solar ray shields. I haven't quite made up my mind, and I'm not sure the band has, either. Either way, it sure sounds cool. Quite the ear blister.

Jon Worley