“Ghost Towns” — Radical Face
Ben Cooper, who releases music under the moniker Radical Face (and makes up 1/2 of Electric President and 1/3 of Iron Orchestra if you’re into fractions), was a fiction writer prior to embarking on a music career. With that in mind, Cooper has undertaken a unique project of sonic storytelling. Four years after the 2007 release of his debut effort, Ghost, the up-and-coming indie folk artist has announced a trilogy of albums, the first of which he released last month. Named The Family Tree: The Roots, Cooper’s sophomore effort smacks of haunting nostalgia and a risk well-taken.
Recorded alone in a toolshed behind his own mother’s house in Florida, the first installment in Cooper’s Family Tree project follows the story of a fictional family named the Northcotes through — you guessed it — their genealogy. More specifically, The Roots tracks the first two generations of the family’s endeavors which take place in the 19th Century. To sprinkle on even more intrigue, Cooper restricts himself to only using instruments available in the aforementioned time period, painting a more accurate and decidedly vivid picture.
The product is something both antique and contemporary — but not gimmicky — in feel and delivery. A well-paced standout on the album, “Ghost Towns” depicts a sepia-tinged requiem into history. And, as it turns out, reminds us that loneliness is timeless.
Listen to “Ghost Towns” below:
Listen on Spotify:
Radical Face — “Ghost Towns”
About the Author
Chase Larson is the founder of SOUND. He has written for Men’s Journal, Deseret News, Daily Herald, Rhombus and worked as an editor at the The Daily Universe. When he’s not involved in one of the aforementioned pursuits, he sleeps. Very well. Follow him on Twitter at @chasemlarson, Google+ or at his website ChaseLarson.com.
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