Ghostplane - Beneath the Sleepy Lagoon
Ghostplane's Beneath the Sleepy Lagoon starts out on a lively note, but it soon relaxes down into a comfortable, introspective sound that is hard to pin down. Guitars blend in-and-out of mellow keyboard lines, cast over by gentle singing from Archilles Botes and his sweet-voiced companion Ash Harner, all backed by slight drum lines and the steady shaking of percussion.
There are no strong hooks to catch the listener, instead the mood draws the attentive ear in more slowly and, along with the off-centre lyrics, this makes it an enjoyable album to give repeated plays. On the downside, this can mean that the tracks have a tendency to meander, with the dreaded self-indulgence that is common in Wellington musicians rearing its head at some points.
Nonetheless, Beneath the Sleepy Lagoon is an intriguing little gem that will be enjoyed by listeners who are interested in music that is more thoughtful and deeply-layered than your average rock song."
- GLC
