With chance pre-pandemic email exchanges being their first contact in nearly 30 years, dispersed former bandmates Rob, Tony & Nigel began developing musical ideas while trying to figure out how to coax reasonably sounding productions from their ancient MacBooks. Eventually, someone suggested that talking to each other could be useful. Nearly four years later, the album Forever Polyester was completed, with the three still not having breathed the same air together since those carefree days. The songs deal with the passing of time, with those we love, and with the triumphs and disasters we all face eventually. Personal experiences wrapped up in small narratives. Things that have mattered to us, that still do.
On their new single, the hypnotically groovy “Everyone’s a Ghost,” Pantomime Horses introduce themselves as nuanced fusion masterminds. With a touch of psychedelia that accentuates the subtle ambiance and pop-tinted melodies that flow throughout this unassuming yet potent performance, the sixth single from the veteran yet youthful band establishes an immersive sense of singularity. The chorus is a funky slice of danceability, while the verses cloak themselves in an eerie familiarity, but “Everyone’s a Ghost” is far from a simple showing of prowess. Pantomime Horses explore the pitfalls of finding solace in the past and of dealing with the juxtaposition of basking in the joy of memories and realizing that remembering is all that is left of them. The band tackles these complex emotions without sounding too downtrodden, a testament to their vulnerability and innate pop sensibilities. Pantomime Horses have released a statement piece, a single with “Everyone’s a Ghost,” a heartbreaking yet warm performance bursting with raw emotion and personality.
