Bottlemoth have released their debut album ‘Even Us Ghosts’.
The debut full length from the indie folk band follows their jam packed year which in less than 12 month since forming has saw the band perform alongside Cold Years, The Dangerous Summmer and Adult Leisure.
Speaking of the album, frontman Ethan Proctor said: “Like many of our friends, we’d become twenty somethings living with our families again, and there are a lot of complexities to that; Feeling fortunate to have those people, but the contrasting feeling of becoming a burden. It progressed the themes and images in the writing process, with oceans and ‘the deep’, a direct comparison to sinking emotionally, and tall skylines being the opposite hopes and joy. The album title ‘Even us ghosts’ summarises the record well for just three words. Without speaking for the whole band, across my life I have felt like a ghost in a very loud world. I wouldn’t say I’m spiritual, but the comparison I find inspires a lot of topics for writing. In change and challenge, loneliness in the most crowded places, hoping to always be there for those you care for, the feeling you’re not enough. That last theme manifests a lot. I don’t think we get an answer to the questions of what is enough across our album, but we are talking and that’s something.”
To celebrate their album release, Bottlemoth shared with us 5 tracks that influenced ‘Even Us Ghosts’.
The Gaslight Anthem – 45
The album this song features on was heavy rotation for me for a long time. It’s got awesome guitar work, but really great choruses too – it’s a great driving album. I was aiming for this with ‘Tattoo’ in particular on our album. Thematically it’s about going to new places, but not forgetting the people you have – like ’45’, it’s an attempt at a driving song with reflection.
Pylo – Enemies
When this song was released I was expanding my listening into loads of different styles. It’s been with me a long time now as one of my favourite songs. We moved in similar circles, though didn’t properly meet until a few years later when Matt was hosting a podcast. The song is filled with cinematic energy, and with ‘Where Oceans Swallow Your Skies’ this is what I wanted to hit. It’s a song about feeling alone in crowds of people, with huge dynamics to portray the emotion of that.
Radiohead – Motion Picture Soundtrack
A friend who used to play drums with some of us was in an Acapella group called Semi Toned. They did an unbelievable version of this song that brings me to tears often. It’s pure, it’s magic. The arrangement is super, but the song itself has such beautiful chordal work. With ‘Hold Me Like You Know Me’, I wanted to hit that feeling. Scooped up in my own head, the lyrics just fell into place and I began experimenting.
Manchester Orchestra – Every Stone
I did a cover of this song when I was learning how to record before the album. Similarly to ’45’, the guitars in this song are so good and the chorus is incredible. The whole of our album initially I wanted to be a rock record – so this song would have inspired those tunes like ‘Landslides (people change)’. Ultimately, we went in a more varied direction, but I think that was for the best too.
Snow Patrol – What If This Is All The Love You’ll Ever Get
Snow Patrol are a band I didn’t get for a long time, and then I got it completely for so long. They write songs that stay with you, with a feeling that is important. This particular song is a piano ballad that I think of often, and I wanted a piano led tune on our album. Settle In became this, though with more production than the Snow Patrol song admittedly. Perhaps my love of longer song names comes from this tune too, but who can say!
Listen to Bottlemoth’s musical influences:
Stream Bottlemoth ‘Even Us Ghosts’ via Spotify: