from the CDR, self-released, 2007The subgenre known as “dream wave” starts right here, with now-defunct Austin, TX trio Ghosthustler, a group mostly remembered for having been Alan Palomo’s first major project (he’s the guy from VEGA and Neon Indian), as their existence was so brief that they never even got to drop an album proper; although it pains me to say this, these kids were raised on Daft Punk & Felix da Housecat (oh crap man, I am getting old), and this interpretation of the ‘80s comes not from real memories, but what they think the ‘80s might have felt like. Where a lot of bands who are trying to do this come off sounding cheesy and insincere, Palomo’s songs utterly glisten, which says to me that this boy really did his homework; not only does this track stand easily alongside any classic new wave anthem you put next to it, it surpasses the lion’s share of its own influences. I’m fully aware of the fact that vapid zombie-hipsters have co-opted all of Palomo’s music as their current soundtrack, but any true fan of ‘80s music, or synthesizer led rock in general, will fall helplessly in love with Ghosthustler’s carefree smoothness.
