The Telegraphs : 'We Were Ghosts'
Firstly, let me confess - this kind of screaming rock is not my genre of choice. So the fact I found this album pleasingly listenable means that either a) I need to retune my musical tastes (fat chance!), or b) this is one stonkingly great album. I’m inclined to think it’s the latter!
A sweeping generalisation it may be, but my previous experience of this sound has left me wondering what is the point of cranking up guitars and drums so loud that you can’t hear the lyrics? The Telegraphs have pulled off a masterstroke in audio editing by allowing the lyrics to come across with full meaning, yet without losing the raw passion and ear bursting noise of their music.
According to the PR 'We Were Ghosts' was recorded on a mountainside in Snowdonia. I would not be surprised to find there was an avalanche in the area at the same time!
From track one it bites and never lets go, the ferocity of the music doesn’t even build, it is quite simply just there. What sets this album apart is the electrifying rawness of the sound - the band just seem to be packed full of boundless energy; ironic then that track 2 is titled ‘We Dance In Slow Motion’. I can’t imagine anything going slow once this band take possession of the stage.
The only concession given to the listener’s ears is ‘Forever Never’ which starts off more raw and stripped back than the previous three tracks before breaking into a harmonious crescendo led by Darren LeWarne’s guitar and underpinned by Sam Bacon’s relentless drums.
Despite the decibels the quiet support of Hattie Williams’ vocals still manage to make their presence heard, most notably on ‘I Don’t Navigate By You’. The track plays out as two sides of an argument, a pointer to her and lead vocalist Darcy Harrison’s romantic history; the album was recorded in the dwindling days of their relationship. It is to our benefit that they tolerate each other enough to make an album like this.
“All the places I said I’d never go, I’ve gone now” Harrison’s words could soon have a very real ring to them as The Telegraphs embark on a four month tour. This is part of their assault on the British music scene, aided and abetted by Radio 1 & Kerrang amongst others. It is quite clear that very soon The Telegraphs will be everywhere; Glasgow to Southampton, Aberdeen to Exeter and rocking every other conceivable city in between.
Words: Patrick Dennehy
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