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 Caught in the Carousel - Music Reviews and More
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Ex-Lion Tamer
Go Ghost
Tin Star
There’s something off after a first listen to Ex Lion Tamer’s debut longplayer Go Ghost. Maybe it’s because not all of us who are listening are black-clad goths interested in hearing about the miseries of life. Or maybe it’s the headache-inducing groan of the cacophonous guitars, or the monotone drone of singer Assaf Tager reminding us that "death is all around"—which, frankly, isn’t all that appealing. Fortunately for the listener, things pick up after that. Lyrically, the New York trio examines the darker and more demented aspects of life, all of which are augmented by the intriguing confluence of the group’s two vocalists, Tager and Zoe Polanski. Tager’s typical alt-rocker vocals (see: "My Little Lioness") contrast with Polanski’s simple, powerful voice, like on the haunting "Japanese Flower," and the interplay between the two pays off in a peculiar and appealing prog rock thrill. In "Toxic Avenger" or the experimental "Party Spoon," Polanski’s scream slows to a talk as the guitar plaintively wails in the background. Elsewhere, love goes incredibly wrong in the intense "Shaky," escalating to the point where Tager sings, "I wouldn’t touch you with a six foot pole." Only eight tracks long, Go Ghost goes by quickly, and even if you’re not obsessed with death, you’ll want to hear more about it.
—Jessica Simons
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