Clash journalist Susan Hansen on Ghum’s The Coldest Fire EP.
This week, I’ve been listening to London-based four-piece Ghum, who make infectious new wave rock. The band’s inventive take on 1980s goth culture combined with their international backgrounds – they hail from Brazil, Spain and the UK and formed via a Gumtree ad – make them fascinating.
The four tracks on recent EP The Coldest Fire feel relevant and modern, recalling not only The Cure and Savages, but also Editors, White Lies and The Killers.
But the soaring female vocals and the ferocious guitar riffs give the band an enticing edge, while their different personalities and backgrounds add complexity. Ultra-diverse, Ghum draw on a nuanced palette of influences, and have their own unique sound. Dark, mesmeric and irresistible, their material has a natural flow, as dramatic lyrics dovetail with rich, imaginative sonics.
After a busy recent show at London’s Shacklewell Arms, they are receiving radio play and there’s lots of hype around current single Saturn. With slots opening for Dream Wife, LA Witch and Muncie Girls, Ghum are set for great things.
I’m excited to see how far they can go.
