REBENN –
Ghost in My Mind – Single Review
Korean
songwriter-producer REBENN’s new single Ghost
in my Mind is a really unique take on electropop. With a powerful rhythmic
momentum to drive it forward, it’s got energy from the get go, as a catchy
instrumental chorus with a quirky melody rounds off this short but sweet
two-part track.
One of the
nicest and most subtly ear-grabbing things about Ghost in My Mind is its length and simplicity. Clocking in at just
under 2:30, it’s shorter than even some Beatles songs but manages to give the
listener just enough to leave them craving a bit more, without being boring or
becoming overly simplistic or repetitive. The AAA structure works like a dream
because of the melodic strength of it’s single verse, and the instrumentals are
arranged and produced alongside gentle harmonies which add restrained colour to
the up and down, jaunty synth line in the song’s instrumental break.
Ghost in My Mind is smart and impressive in an understated
way. It’s lyrically clever as well. Torn
apart, or rebuilt/my memory of your saying/plunge the knife to the hilt/not a
part of the games your playing, sings featured artist Ellae in a pithy
couplet which is perfectly rounded and emphasised by the heavily audible bass.
Although written in collaboration, Ghost
in My Mind is perfectly formed, and the production and melody knit together
seamlessly.
It is the
melodic strength which draws everything else together. Maybe I'm picky, but one of my biggest musical pet peeves is melodies which hover too much around the same chord or note. I've sometimes wondered if this is because of the restricted linear nature of MIDI keyboards and DAWs - which seem to be the first composition method for more and more independent songwriters now- compared to more organic methods where songs are built up in a jam session or on a guitar. Either way, without knowing how it was composed, what I liked
a lot about Ghost in My Mind was how
it avoided this and offered a melody which felt classic and timeless and could
just as easily be played on a violin or saxophone without sounding boring. I
appreciate technical wizardry as much as the next person, but there was
something really honest and heartfelt about Ghost
in My Mind’s realism and simplicity.
Overall, I
would highly recommend this track as a perfect package of pop, and I sincerely
look forward to seeing what REBENN does next.
Follow him
on Instagram @rebennmusic. Ghost in My
Mind is out now on Spotify or Soundcloud.
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