Love Ghost’s The Scarlet Letter Reviewed By Andrew Velzian

​Love Ghost’s The Scarlet Letter is a song of such haunting beauty it leaves you achingly mesmerized. Taken from their newly released debut LP Lobotomy, it sits like an emotional landmine between the controlled rage of opener Girl Pusher, and the punch in the face of Parasitical Identity.

Based on Viola player Mya Greene’s own traumatic misdiagnoses of Autism as a child, and its far-reaching effects, the title refers to the nineteenth century practice of marking, or branding an individual (usually female), of their sins in order to single them out for judgement in the eyes of their peers.

“…The lyrics to this song were inspired by a personal experience which I felt reflected a current trend and deserved social commentary. This experience was the degrading, devastating, and humiliating experience of receiving and living with a misdiagnosis of having autism while growing up…”

The musical arrangement of The Scarlet Letter gives us insight into a state of mind which is reinforced by the lyric’s heartbreaking accuracy. The opening sounds of the viola and measured drumbeat are ominous and foreboding before the melancholic, almost dreamlike melody floats in. We are then carried hypnotically away by the soulful and questioning vocals of Finn Bell. It is powerful, it is breathtaking, and by the song’s end we are witnessing the musical shattering of a mind; a consciousness that, filled with frustration and no escape, implodes upon itself in anger and confusion.

The Scarlet Letter is proof that not all is well in teenage America - that labeling people takes priority over addressing the real issues; the real people. Love Ghost’s musical maturity and their raw, articulated honesty goes to show why they are such an important band in today’s climate of denial.
 
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Love Ghost consists of Finn Bell (Vocals, keys, guitar), Mya Greene (Viola), Ryan Stevens (Bass) and Samson Young (Drums). The four-piece blend heavy rock, garage psych and moody pop for a unique fusion all their own. The music is influenced by the teenager’s personal experiences of addiction, mental illness, heartache, love and coming of age.

The heavy alt rock band from Los Angeles, Love Ghost, were named to Music Connection's Hot 100 Unsigned Bands for 2017.  The band has played in Tar Fest, The Our Life Festival, Make Music Pasadena and Echo Park Rising. They have been the opening act for such high profile bands as Smash Mouth, The Young Dubliners, Buckcherry, Berlin, Ozomatli and The Tubes. Their performance of "Forgive Me" on Balcony TV is currently the number 1 voted video of all-time.


Keep up with Love Ghost via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Listen to The Scarlet Letter below
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Andrew Velzian is a Scotsman currently living in Vietnam. He is sub prose editor at Under The Fable magazine and has poetry and short fiction published both online and in print. 

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