Gefahrgeist. The name of this band gives you a good hint about their sensibilities. They're a duo based in Scotland, but chose a German word which means "danger ghost", to work under.
The pair (singer songwriter Fiona Liddell from Glasgow, and producer Niall Rae from Aberdeen) have created a sound which is hugely atmospheric, occasionally dark, truly cinematic, and yet verging on pop (in the best sense of the term), and their latest release 'Orbit' encapsulates that sound and approach to music-making.
It's a stunning track lasting more than 7 minutes, but that length is easy to forget once you fall into the sound. It's undeniably epic in nature and in sound and deserves full concentration: reserve some time, and space in a darkened room, and let yourself get lost in it, because this is captivating from start to end.
The band describe 'Orbit' as a song of two halves, and it is, absolutely. But it's also a clearly defined and singular piece - the two halves are like two stages of one journey. Each leaves its own memories with you, but neither would be complete without the other.
The first part of the song is soothing yet haunting. It opens gently, with soft electric piano and synths evoking cosmic vibes and, with the introduction of gently modulated vocals from Fiona, increases in intensity very subtly. I have a lot of respect for the fact that Gefahrgeist gave this song as much time as it needed to develop its full potential; 7 minutes was what the song required, and that's what it got.
There are strings and woodwind - refreshing organic elements - and those vocals start to soar with just a hint of harmony. There's also an intriguing pulse behind the music, giving a sense of life and breath. Then, after this exploration seems to reach a concluding peak, with a roll of drums and a satisfying coda comes a transition to the next chapter.
Although the second half of the song is clearly different, and creeps up a little unexpectedly, that transition had me nodding my head - it works and feels like a natural progression. The pulse becomes larger and fuzzier, but brilliantly, those physical, classical instruments don't disappear in the more electronic, upbeat second half. They fade for a while, but then come back, reprised.
These elements provide a gentle underlay to the rapped vocals from Edinburgh-based MC and poet Conscious Route. He gives an amazing performance on the record, sounding at ease but on edge, his flow intensifying to a climax of barely restrained frustration. This all give the latter part of the song - and the whole piece - an incredibly eclectic feel. It's really effective and very special, right down to the fierce ending: "Almost the same reaction, don't matter if I change the caption ... Guess I'm just repeating myself."
Lyrically, there's a lot going on, too: Orbit explores pressing issues and deserves repeat listens for that alone. I've found the song providing me a kind of soundtrack at various points over the last few days - it's a piece that lends itself well to that - and I keep discovering new moments in it. It's a winner for me.
This article in the Scottish Sun has some great insights into the pair's musical journey. Also, check out their Bandcamp as well as listening to the track below.