Bradford-based trio Lost Ground are certainly not short of ambition or creativity. Their latest EP ‘Absent’ throws the song writing rulebook out the window, opting for a free roaming journey through sequential ideas, rather than packaging them up into the conventional categories of verses and choruses. Rarely does anything repeat on this record, so if you want to hear a particular part of a song again, you’ll need to play the whole thing back, which makes the EP satisfyingly moreish and addictive, immersing you deeper into the record.
‘Ghost’ opens with heartfelt vocals and chords before a vibrant, clever hi-hat pattern guides you through intricate math-rock instrumentals. ‘Holier Than Thou’ continues the theme of minimalistic vocals, teasing you with a delightfully uplifting series of melodies at the track’s outset, only to disappear behind waves of ambient guitars and creative rhythms. Lew Taylor’s vocals are warm and inviting and whenever they appear they elevate each track; by not conforming to standard vocal arrangements and placing the vocals at precise moments only, they carry even more impact when they do appear.
This minimalist vocal approach only works because the instrumental parts that fit the spaces in between are so captivating and interesting. These mathy, post-rock elements would certainly be good enough to carry the EP on their own, but the addition of Taylor’s impressive vocal melodies adds even more, providing a rich emo/post-hardcore layer that rounds off a sophisticated sound.
On paper, ‘Absent’ shouldn’t really work. There’s an awful lot packed into only four tracks: math-rock, post-rock, emo, post-hardcore, multiple tempos and time signatures, and unconventional song structures. Putting so many elements together should result in a confusing mess, but Lost Ground have managed the complete opposite. Each song is balanced so intricately and assuredly that, instead, we’re left with an accomplished EP with its own unique sound. Demonstrating this level of intelligence and creativity across just four tracks makes Lost Ground an incredibly exciting act for the future: one that we can’t wait to hear more from.
MARK JOHNSON