George Gadd walks us through Too Many Ghosts, track by track.
Square One
There wasn’t really anywhere else this song could go but the start. I feel like a huge touchstone for this song’s influence was Manchester Orchestra, in particular the song ‘Colly Strings’, but then adding our own twist towards the end. The statement itself feels like it subconsciously came from watching a lot of anime, in particular Dragonball Z, where they always get up and are like “is that all you’ve got?”. Two of my favourite moments in this song only happened during recording: Ciaran’s piano call-and-response and his lead guitar riff when everything kicks in. We had been playing this song for years but those moments only came together there and then.
Not Human
A self-produced version of this actually came out in 2017 with Sean Huber from Modern Baseball/Steady Hands on guest vocals but we all felt the mix wasn’t quite there. Over the years, I started playing it acoustic and taking it up a tone. The change really elevated the song, brought a ton more energy, and made it feel like we finally did it justice.
Sycamore
This song captures that feeling of butterflies in your stomach. It first appeared on 2017’s Better Shape EP but this reworked version really showcases the contribution the Aftermath bring and a testament to their talent. I love the night-and-day difference between both versions - the first is gentle and naive, while this one feels more self-assured and mature. At the time, we were definitely obsessed with The War on Drugs. Still am tbh.
Wrist
After a pretty bad break-up and surrounded by fresh trauma, I wrote constantly. There was one week in particular where I wrote 16 songs - this and “Little Bird” are the two that stuck. I don’t think the rest will ever see the light of day as it is just a super depressing listen. In terms of writing, this is probably the rawest I’ve ever been lyrically. It was one of the first post-Better Shape songs I brought to the newly formed band, and Ciaran, Dan and Xak really helped take it to a cathartic level.
Invisible
In terms of influence, I would say this is very rooted in post-hardcore. It reminds me a lot of Thrice in some places. Strangely, I have really enjoyed opening my set with this full band but also acoustic. It’s really cathartic. In 2023, Ciaran and I went to the North Norfolk coast for a few days to try and knock out a few new songs. I’d had this riff in the bank for about five years, and after countless iterations, this version just fell out of me. We came back with about eight songs - this and “The Optimist” made the cut. The final section of the song was added right at the end. It felt too short, and while walking the dog I suddenly heard Chris from Campfire Social’s voice in my head. I rushed home and wrote the part. Since we were recording the album in North Wales just ten minutes from where Campfire Social lived, four of them came over to add vocals. They worked out harmonies instantly and locked in perfectly, elevating the track beyond what I’d imagined. Mexican Dave loves the fact that the line ‘service station coffee stained teeth’ is about Gloucester services.
The Optimist
This song is very much about using humour as a coping mechanism, sometimes when it’s probably not appropriate like during therapy. I am grateful to have folks around me who reign me in but I am aware that I don’t really have a filter.
Little Bird
Stylistically, this song took many forms and took a while to get right. To me, it feels like the perfect blend of abstract influences like Bon Iver, Sigur Rós and Bear’s Den with a Springsteen-like foundation. I even asked Wil Schade (Slaughter Beach, Dog) to “go full Big Man” with the saxophone, in the spirit of Clarence Clemons - and he did exactly that. My Mum’s side of the family sadly had a lot of loss and tragedy which I grew up around and at the time of writing, I was tracing back through that.
Shake A Ghost
During a mental health dip, I thought, “right, I’m going to book a tour.” In reality, it was one date - three hours away in Morecambe with my good friend Joe McCorriston - but for me it was a way of escaping. It was a strange time. I was on a revolving door of medications and this song in particular is about Fluoxetine, which stopped me sleeping. I eventually came off them and started exploring other coping strategies. Nowadays, if I’m having one of those days, I feel better equipped with tried-and-tested methods that work for me. There’s no linear path for mental health and no one-size-fits-all approach, but I’m happy to say that I feel like I’ve found mine for the most part whether that be going for a walk or talking to a friend.
Leo
When my mum was a child, she was bit by a dog after hugging it on a hot day. She was left scarred and rightfully frightened of dogs. My grandad’s response was to make sure there was always a dog in the family home and my Mum carried that on and I grew up surrounded by them. Leo was a Bear Shar Pei who had been passed between so many homes. He was elegant and unique. When my mum was in hospital, he would know I was upset and console me at night. During the COVID lockdown, we lost Leo suddenly in a horrible accident. My mum called me, and I dropped everything to run across town. At the vets, the staff were cold and unsympathetic, giving us an ultimatum that, because of restrictions, we couldn’t properly say goodbye. My mum was devastated, and I couldn’t even hug her. It was one of the hardest moments we’ve had - made even more bitter when it later transpired that the day Leo died was also one of the days Boris Johnson had a lockdown party… Prick. Dogs are better than people, people are pricks.
Bonus Track
If you redeem the Bandcamp download code included with the vinyl, the bonus track is the original demo I recorded in 2016. It felt like a fitting bookend to an album that documents such a turbulent period of my life.
