It’s been a little while since I’ve gone trick or treating, but I must say that I enjoy getting a treat without knocking on doors. Elephant Skeletons has graced us with a Halloween release that will fit any spooky grooving you have in mind.
Cliff Doucette, who, among several other names, is known as Elephant Skeletons, says that his three-song EP, Ghost Stories, pairs well with the Halloween season. The largely instrumental songs, having been amassed from the larger Elephant Skeleton catalogue, happen to share a unifying spooky vibe, and so Doucette decided that there would never be a better time to share them. Ghost Stories features lots of what we’ve come to expect from Elephant Skeletons, so let’s dive in.
First up of the three tracks is “Scorpio,” which Doucette describes as a gritty, hard-hitting dance floor vibe, and that’s precisely what he delivers. From the opening riffs with falling siren synths, to the intoned vocals, the track is heavily processed and just a touch scary. “Scorpio” has the goods to keep a dancefloor moving.
Ghost Stories‘ second track, “Forest Ghost Stories,” is, perhaps the spookiest of the three tracks. The otherworldly vocals, coupled with a bouncy beat, would fit any alien invasion you could ever want. Classic sci-fi sounds fill the soundscape, and it doesn’t sound like the humans are going to be ok.
The EP closer, “Bats in the Sunlight,” has what Doucette describes as a “gnarly saunter”. In the evolving horror movie that is playing out in my head, this is clearly the battle-worn hero coming in for the final battle. Epic choral voices float over a growling bassline and skittering percussion.
To top it all off, Ghost Stories features outstanding artwork from photographer and digital artist Sean Snow; adding a nice visual to this most welcome surprise release.
While this EP is an unexpected Halloween treat, it’s proof that there’s an Elephant Skeleton for all seasons. According to t o Doucette he still has hours of unreleased music in various styles and plans to release selections from it over the next year.