Featuring a voice like Genesis-era Peter Gabriel and a backing that skips from hypnotic indie rock to peculiar psychobilly, Smith 6079 sound more like a song writing committee than a true band.
The name Smith 6079 seems curiously punk-esque with its obvious echoes of The Dead Kennedy’s early guitarist 6025, but the concept behind “Ghosts” seems to be one of highlighting the bland conformity and email-saturated domination of the present day. Chucking in a late-coming hummable “la la la la la la la” chorus points to a seasoned group of musical campaigners though. I liked it, I’m just not sure why.
“Ghosts” is a Halloween release that misses some of the more obvious Goth and metal musical elements, but also any sense of occasion or pertinence. Only the opening whispered speech sets the scene before the shuffling rockabilly of the song gets going. Smith 6079 are seemingly a band looking for a direction.
They appear to want to be a pop version of Joy Division, which could be awesome… but isn’t.
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Tags: Ghosts, indie, pop, psychobilly, rock, Smith 6079
