Oakland, California's Space Ghost, who put together one of my favourite EPs of 2022 with the South Carolina soul singer Teddy Bryant for PPU, has just launched a new record label, Peace World Records. For the inaugural release, the longstanding producer/DJ puts down his street soul toolbox and heads straight into full dream house mode with four floaty bangers that sound like they should be playing as Lando Calrissian's theme music up on Cloud City.
Opening with 'East of the Lake', he keeps his kick drums punchy and his basslines ready to boogie while dressing the clap-accented rhythm track up in sparkly synthesisers and epic piano chords. This is the sort of music that sets the scene and doesn't rush itself while it's doing it. On the title track, he works with a similar set of juxtapositions, keeping our feet moving on the dancefloor and giving our minds space to wander.
Almost surprisingly, 'Prism' feels even more space-aged. While it uses the bouncy drums/bassline combo Spaceghost has been rolling with on the previous two tracks, psychedelic incidental noises, filtered chords and chirping digital melodies practically levitate over his hovering bass. People are gonna be strutting on the dancefloor to this one. From there, he wraps things up on a similar slant with 'Homeworld', where sturdy rhythm machinery eventually gives way to a beautifully extended ambient conclusion.
