We’re no stranger to piano-led ballads, from those indie-pop gems to soulful serenades, yet very few are able to incorporate authentic rock motifs into a minimalist arrangement in a seamless way. In steps Love Ghost, the Los Angeles band who artfully subdue their distorted grungey sounds for a moment of stillness and restraint in their latest single ‘Car Crash’. It’s a haunting song that conveys the fragility and rawness of love that has suddenly gone astray.
Opening with tentative piano notes, ‘Car Crash’ grips the listener from the very first moment not with brash, ear-catching drama, but that instantly recognisable tone of heartbreak. This stripped-back sound is met by the band’s founder Finnegan Bell whose voice is soft and unwavering, yet with a shaky undertone that signals the pain that’s sitting just below the surface. You can’t help but be struck by the relatable honesty of lines like “you are everything I hate and everything I’ve ever loved”, which vibrate with bittersweet regret. It’s clear that our love-worn protagonist is aware of his own contradiction and that’s what makes this song such a stand-out – it’s not about retribution or retaliation – this is purely about emotional exploration. As the track progresses, Bell’s delivery grows heavier, almost breathless, as if weighed down by the burden of his own damaged heart.
Directed by Keith Coleman, the accompanying music video, shot in sober black-and-white, further emphasises the quiet theatricalism of this unconventional piano track. Producer Daniel Alcala also adds to the cinematic minimalism with his complementary production which keeps the arrangement spacious, giving room for each note, lyric, word and pause to fully expand. Each part of ‘Car Crash’ has clearly been chosen to reinforce the sense of underlying devastation.
You can also listen to ‘Car Crash’ in our Shades of Pop playlist.
Follow Love Ghost:
UNRECORDED 